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324th HEAVY FIELD ARTILLERY 
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 



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American j^xpeditidnahy Ji'orces 



Sei-\e'l with the 32nLi Division and 4th Army Corps 
in the Argonne Sector, operations around Mont- 
faucon. With the 18th French DiAasion, 17th French 
Corps, and 29th Division U. S. A., west of the Meuse 
and north of the Verdun Sector in operations culmi- 
nating- in the capture of Grande Montagne and Bois 
d'Etraye, supporting also the 26th Division U. S. A. 
With the 32nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, west of 
the Meuse and operations thereafter up to the sign- 
ing of the Armistice, at which time the Regiment 
was attacking from the Bois d'Ecurey. Marched 
with the 3rd Army into Germany and served \\-ith 
the Army of Occupation as part of the 32nd Division 
Artillery. 



OfRcially Pinhlished ]hy Iha Bailery 






Copyrighted 1919 
R. LA RUE COBER, Managing Editor 



nm i4 19iS 



Printed by 
Hyde Brothers, Marietta, Ohio 



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Tiil)i(B (©If (C®imiteimiL^ 

DEDICATION 

fa a 

IN MEMORIAM 

R Pa 

HISTORY 

PERSONNEL 

STATISTICS AND 
OFFICIAL LETTERS 

BATTERY COMMENT 
AND SONGS 

HUMOR 

SHORT STORIES 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



lllllllllllllllllltlllllllllMiiii 




MAJOR ALFRED L. RICHMOND 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 

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llceaitn®!! 



We, the men of Battery D, dedicate this book to our former 
Captain, Major Alfred L. Richmond. 

It is a battery book in the sense that it is the work of, and 
represents chiefly the experiences and the sentinrents of, the 
enlisted men in the battery. 

We are not dedicating it to Major Richmond so much be- 
cause he organized us as a battery and remained with us 
through the larger part of our time in the army. Nor so 
much because of his exceptionally clear and well-trained in- 
tellect, which signalized him as an officer of Artillery and 
obtained him his transfer to the post of Operation Officer on 
the brigade staff, and later a majorship. No. For this would 
be out of a sense of duty, and heaven knows that to a man we 
are fed up on military duty. 

But because through his gentleness, through his consider- 
ateness and his justness, and through his manifest care for our 
individual wellbeing, he has won our lasting affection and 
esteem. 



llim MeiM^irnaiM 

fc fe pa 

FRANK J. HENN 

CHARLES E. HINKLE 

CLYDE D. LIVINGSTON 

CHARLES R. LOONEY 

CALVIN R. OVERHOLSER 

GEORGE L. VINSON 

HARRY G. WRIGHT 



I: 



:n r/ietiiOTaa: 



From factory, school, office and farm we came 
together into Battery D. Together for a time we 
played the soldiers role — endured the fatigue of it, 
tensed to its dangers, traveled a share of the 
world, enjoyed the soldiers fun. It was a good 
fellowship; and now we have come back again to 
the old life, richer in experience, — if not better 
men. 

But these fell by the wayside — 

It is of little purport how and when they fell. 
Some by disease, some by sheer accident, one on 
the field of battle. They gave their lives for you 
and for me, for the welfare of our country, for 
the welfare of humanity. 

We will remember each one's smile. We will 
remember each one's generosity toward us, and 
the evident love each one bore for certain dear 
mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and sweet- 
hearts at home. We make loving record of their 
service. Each in his own way made the great 
surrender 

"to light men's feet, 
Where death for noble ends makes dying sweet." 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 

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Four years of terrible misery and struggling between the Allied and Central Powers of Europe 
liad almost passed when our Nation was brought face to face with a situation which involved our 
neutrality; and, furthermore, demanded either concessions by Germany in regards to her cruel 
methods of warfare, or inevitable war between Germany and the United States. The administra- 
tion which controlled the welfare of our Country had adopted a policy of watchful waiting. Reams 
of note paper had passed between the two governments. Finally, however, the United States 
awoke to her duty, and, in April 1917, War was formally declared against the German Empire. 

We have neither time nor space to record in our History the development of the events which 
followed. But one of the gigantic tasks which was undertaken by the United States was for us to 
mobolize man power enough so as to enforce the demands we had made on Germany. 

At the time war was declared the standing ai-my of our Country was a very small one. We 
only had some 60,000 Regulars, and these were so scattered along our coasts and in our island pos- 
sessions that their strength was insignificant. Yes, we had the National Guard units whose 
numbers were about 40,000. But the sum total of all available troops was a mere bit in comparison 
to the millions of veterans on the Western and other Fronts. 

It was apparent that if the United States was to take a prominent part in the War our Army 
would have to mobilize troops by the millions. And it was done, and done so successfully that the 
war was brought to an end much quicker than even our military experts had dared to hope. 

Conscription is the only method a nation can adopt when the emergency requires the greatest 
of exertion. So on June 5th in 1917 all men between the ages of 21 and 31 were required to 
register with the local draft board in their immediate counties. After the completion of this 
registration ten million were found available for service. Men from every walk of life; men who 
had no previous military training; men who in the role of civilians had helped to mold our nation 
into the greatest and best of modern states; and who, when asked to protest the Nation's honor 
and integrity, eagerly applied themselves so diligently and so earnestly that on November the 11th, 
in 191S, just nineteen months after we had entered the war, the Central Powers of Europe were 
forced to sign an armistice. 

During the year 1917 our Nation sent three of the Regular Divisions over seas. These men 
were the forerunners of the great army that followed. They inspired and instilled confidence in 
our allied armies, which had so valiantly defended the woi-ld's democracy for four long years of 
most awful warfare, so that the lines were held until the Ajiierican hordes could arrive to turn the 
defensive fighting into offensive and hence victory. 

In the spring of 1918 our National Army Divisions, as well as those of the National Guard, 

began arriving in France. By June they were in the field and in July our Army of two million 

men, which comprised the American Expeditionary Forces, became the controlling factor in turn- 
ing the Huns back. 

This, in general, shows the development of the National Army of the United States. As a 
whole it was the chief factor of our success abroad. The ranks of every Division "over seas" con- 
tained men who had been drafted. Regular Army and National Guard Divisions could not have 
been brought to full strength without them. And the effectiveness of the National Army divisions 
themselves is proven by their individual records. So, in writing the History of our own Battery, 
we are justly proud of recording a brief outline of the efficient body of soldiers of which we were 
but a small unit. 



T H p; TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



ImijrodmdbwTj to Hlbtor 



Ailrr-,| I,. Ui.:hnioTiil 

The history of an organization is the result of the daily accomplishment of each individual 
member of the unit, and, therefore, each person whether he has been with the organization continually 
01 for a shoit period of time can feel that he personally has to a gieater or less degree contributed 
his part to the forming of its historical character. 

Battery D, 324th F. A., being a National Army Organization, its personnel came from all walks 
of life and were thrown together under conditions strange to all of them. They were to live to- 
gether for an indefinite length of time in a very intimate relationship, enjoying pleasure, enduring 
hardships and privations, and making personal sacrifices for the common good. The ultimate result 
of all of this is an individual character slightly different from that which you possessed before 
entering the military service. Involuntarily you have now acquired a broader view of life, a 
better understanding of human nature, an education beyond the power of books, and, above all, a 
comradeship which you will chei'ish throughout life. Thus each one in contributing his share to the 
character of the unit has in return received a commensurate value for the building of his own 
personality. 

Although it has not been my pleasure to command the battery from start to finish I can claim 
the start and about thirteen months out of its twenty-one months of existence. During the remainder 
of the time I have been able to watch its progress with keen interest and have ahvays felt the 
closest relationship with the organization. 

The period of service for the battery may be divided into three parts, namely; organization 
and training in the United States; training in France; and service at the front including the march 
to the Rhine and occupation of the Coblenz bridgehead. Each of these pei'iods have been marked 
by a commendable spirit of cooperation and devotion to duty, and the final result has been the 
achievement of success and an unblemished recoi'd of which anyone may be justly proud. 

Your military duties are now at an end and with your return to civil life it is my sincere wish 
that each one in his individual pursuits may have equal success to that which you have made 
possible for the battery to attain. 



13 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



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MmM/Bi'j History 

3pJaiml)B3" Biht 1917 1© J'Uiae Silh, IBIB 



Organization 



Division 
Reviews 



Second Platoon goes 
to Columbus 



1) Battery was the first unit of the 324th Field Artillery (Heavy) 
to be organized. The first quota of men from Clark and Licking Counties 
arrived September 5, 1917. The oflicers at the time were; Captain A. L. 
Richmond, First Lieutenant Hole and Second Lieutenants Thompson, 
Feldman and Bevington. The first thing to be done was to clean up in 
and around the newly completed barracks. At the first formation the 
command "cover off" was given and immediately every rookie's hat 
came ofl'. 

On September 20th and 21st the second quota came. After the men 
had been examined, vaccinated and "shot in the back" they were ready 
for work, and drill started in earnest. On October .3rd and 4th the last 
quota arrived. The Battery was now full strength. Close order drill, 
gun drill and sitting up exercises filled every minute of the day. 
Gradually from a group of assorted individuals arose a working unit. 
The men were learning how essential it was that every man should play 
a definite part in the machinery of war. 

On October 16th, the first Division Review was held by Major Gen- 
eral Glenn. Battery D. was especially recommended by him in a letter 
to Colonel Ashburn. This high praise did much to increase the esprit 
de corps we were beginning to acquire. This feeling was always strong 
in the battery and did much to preserve the feeling of unity which 
characterized always its \\'or]c. October was the month of reviews. On 
the twenty-second there was one for Governor Cox and on the twenty 
sixth another for Assistant Secretary of War Crowell and General 
Chamberlin. 

Kovember 3, 1917 Captain Tommy Martin came to the regiment; 
he was a skilled Fi'ench Artillery officer and now the woi'k took on a 
different tone. He pointed out the errors in the dugout Batteries C and 
D constructed along the Scioto. Then came some out of date Russian 
pieces. Every one in the battery learned to use the panoramic sight 
and lay the gun, Some real progress along strictly Artillery lines 
could be noticed. 

On Thanksgiving day Lieutenant Thompson's platoon, the second, 
went to Columbus to partake in the big celebration held there. The 
platoon had been chosen as one of the three best platoons in the regiment 
and hence qualified to parade in Columbus. With sharply creased 
blouses and breeches, glistening puttees and shoes — for in those days a 
buck could wear leather puttees — the platoon was a credit not only to 
the battery but to the regiment. Unfortunately in Columbus some 
committee had fallen down and after a big parade only a small box 
lunch was furnished. In the afternoon a boxing tournament was put 
on to show the results of Johnny Kilbane's instruction. At Camp Sher- 
man the remainder of the battery feasted on turkey and all the trim- 



34 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



First Quarantine 



On December 16tli, Battery D was quarantined for the first time, 
due to an outbreak of mumps and measles. This was the beginning of 
the imprisonment of the battery for that long cold winter of 1917-18. 
The first quarantine lasted three weeks and then was lifted. Despite 
the quarantine part of the men, about thirty per-cent got to go home 
for the Christmas holidays but the remainder spent the time quarantined 
m the barracks. In spite of that, however, a holiday spirit prevailed, 
the mess hall was completely decorated and the Christmas dinner, which 
Sergeant Arthur put out, was one long to be remembered. The 
quarantine was lifted early in January but only for a day or two and 
then was clamped back on due to suspected out break of scarlet fever. 
At this time the whole camp was quarantined. 



Artillery Range 



In January a detail of men from D went to Stoney Creek — also 
called Pride — Ohio to make an artillery range for the 158th F. A. Brigade. 
It was bitterly cold and the snow \\as deep but the men worked hard 
and the range was completed early >n February. On February 9, the 
batteiy having had a few days freedom was again quarantined. A big 
party had been scheduled for February 16th and 17th but the quaran- 
tine was extended an extra week so this dance never came off. On 
February 2.3, 1918 two 4.7" howitzers arrived and now the regiment could 
boast of real high caliber guns. 



Hikes and Gas 



In March, hikes bea;an in earnest and the men learned how to build 
fires for individual cooking, how to march with the least fatigue, how 
to go into battery position, and the rudimentary principles of locating 
a battery and digging in. The men thoi'oughly enjoyed this phase of 
the training and entered into with much zest. Some months later when 
the battery was going into position along the Meuse river many laugh- 
ing comparisons were made to the all day hikes at Camp Sherman. 
Running true to form the battery was quarantined for scarlet fever 
March 4 but this was the last time and lasted only one week. On March 
2.5 gas instruction started. For a week nothing was talked of but 
chlorine, phosgene, sneezing gas, and tear gas, and gas masks were 
worn at all times. Finally the test of actual gas in the trenches was 
given, the men standing m them while they were filled with gas from 
a gas wave attack. Earlier the battery had gone through the "Gas 
house." 



Rifle Range 



April was largely taken up with rifle instruction and work on the 
lange. For a week, daily instruction, lectures and then practice in sight- 
ing, position and trigger squeeze, under the direction of Lieutenant 
Colonel JMcNab. From April 15 to April 23 the battery was on rifle 
range at Mount Logan. Reveille blew at five, then breakfast, and with 
packs the men marched to the range a distance of about five miles. The 
regular course was fired, the men making splendid records, especially 
so considering that few of the men had ever used a rifle. The first few 
days a high percentage of the bli.sters resulted from the strenuous 
hiking but the men soon became hardened. No one has forgotten, it is 
hoped, how big Ed Nethcrs shot the "bar" winning commendation from 
the Colonel; also how good those apple pies the farmer's wives baked 
for the hungry crowd. On April 30, the first night hike took place, 



15 



Ill iiiiiiiiiii null iiiiii iiiiiiiiiii illllli II lllllliliiiiii 

THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



about twelve miles were co^'el■ecl. The purpose of the night hikes was 
to train the men for work on the front since all marching there had to 
be done at night and with no lights. 

On the Artillery On May 3 Batteries C and D marched wth full packs to the Artil- 

Range lery range at Stoney Creek. The men now had a chance to really put 

into practice the principles of artillery fire. Work was varied, every- 
one had a turn at digging trenches, ammunition pits and dugouts; 
practice in telephone work was had; and the men were given an opportu- 
nity to witness the elTect of shell fire. Much swimming and fishing 
occupied the time for recreation and the men felt the two weeks at the 
range was more like a camping trip for pleasure than army training 
for the work had been so planned and was so varied it did not become 
monotonous. May 9, 1918 a consignment of forty recruits from the 
158th Depot Brigade arrived; they did not go to the artillery range 
but started in with their course on the rifle range . The training given 
the recruits was very intensive. Upon the Battery's return from Stoney 
Creek the recruits were mixed with the more experienced men and they 
learned gun drill in surprisingly short order. About May 20th word 
came that the regiment would leave shortly, everj'thing was at high 
tension; inspections began to be almost daily occurrences, men were 
routed out at twelve and one A. M. to draw a hat cord or shoe laces. 
Never was there better spirit for all the men were anxious to get across. 
At that time the German menace to the Allies was great; their line was 
gradually moving toward Paris and seemed only checked not halted. 
Everyone wanted to go across in a hurry to do something. 

Our Last Sunday in Qn Sunday, June 2, Section S was crowded with friends and relatives 

Camp Sherman for it had been announced that no more visitors would be allowed after 

taps Sunday night. The barracks was filled all day with visitors. In 
the evening the band gave a concert. It was hard to say good bye and 
a good many people had trouble swallowing that lump in their throats. 
The next morning field mass was given by the chaplain and the final 
packing done. D Battery left on the first train which pulled out at 
noon; going over the Pennsylvania route from Columbus to New York, 
Camp Mills was reached the afternoon of the fourth. Here the regiment 
remained until June 11th. Much new clothing was issued and there were 
two physical inspections so the men \^•ere all prepared for overseas 
service. About half of the Battery got to see the Great White Way 
since ten per cent could have passes each day. On the morning of June 
11, the Battery left Camp Mills, embarking from Hoboken at noon. 

Embarkation Qn the eleventh day of June we embarked on the British steamer 

Leicestershire which was waiting at the pier for its human cargo of men 
who were destined to play a very important part in the great conflict 
then raging in Europe. After taking our equipment to the place which 
had been assigned to us, we returned to the upper deck from where we 
could get a view of the harbor of the great metropolis. It was from 
here that we saw our first camouflage as it was used in the great fleet 
of ships, both merchant and naval, that carried supplies and soldiers to 
and from Europe. Every ship of any size was covered with irregular 
patches of gaudj- colors. This method of painting made it nearly im- 



16 




Above: — Lt. Crego givin 'em "B> the numbers". 
Below: — The field kitchen on a hike. 



17 



THE 



llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllMlllltllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltlllllllllllllllllllllllllll 

TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



possible to see a boat at any distance as the colors used blended with 
the surroundings in such a manner that it was hard to distinguish the 
outline of the ship unless only a short distance from it. 



The "Frog" 
Steamer 



While we were still on deck a French passenger steamer moved 
slowly away from the adjacent pier. We all seemed to be more or less 
interested in this ship because we realized that we, too, would soon start 
on a dangerous voyage across the great Atlantic. So when the boat 
steamed away there was a continuous exchange of farewells. 



Amusement 
on Board 



As there was no other source of amusement singing was soon heard 
from all parts of the boat. Everyone joined in on some old familiar 
melody and forgot himself for the time being. This continued until 
rather late at night. E-\'entually all wended their way to the different 
holds and prepared to take a snooze in the hammocks. This was the first 
time most of us had had the opportunity of sleeping in a hammock on 
a boat. These hammocks, as you probably remember, were hung on 
hooks which were fastened onto heavy timbers in the top of the holds. 
None complained of having too much room for we were certainly crowd- 
ed to the limit. 



We're Off 



After a short nights rest we were out bright and early on the morn- 
ing of the twelfth but were soon ordered below. At six o'clock the 
machinery was put into motion and soon the boat began slowly but 
surely to move away from the pier. It wasn't long before we were 
permitted to come on deck and view the sights about us. There we were 
in the m.idst of a convoy of some thirty or more transports and des- 
troyers. The destroyers were to accompany us on the voyage for the 
purpose of protecting us against attacks by submarines. 



Last Sight 
of Land 



As the whole convoy slowly moved down the harbor we took our 
last look at old New York. On and on through the fog, we finally came 
to the Statue of Liberty. There it was showing faintly through the 
briny mist. All eyes strained to get a glimpse of the wonderful Statue. 
What a thrill came over us when we beheld "Miss Liberty," realizing 
that we were off on a perilous journey to the assistance of the Republic, 
then in dire need of help, which gave to our own great nation, this 
wonderful Statue. It was now that many of us first began to realize 
how hard it was to leave those things which had meant so much to us. 
Soon, however, the shores of the United States disappeared from sight 
and we weie riding the the foaming waves of the ocean headed for 
"Over There". 



Sea Sickness 



Ben Musser 
Stars 



We hadn't been many hours at sea when it seemed as though our 
stomachs had forgotten their duty. We began to "feed the fish" and 
in no selfish manner either. Most of us still remember that awful sick- 
ness. The first few hours we were afraid we would "croak" and next 
several we were afraid we wouldn't "croak"; so terrible was our sickness. 

The first to fall a victim of this sickness was Ben Musser. I shall 
never forget the picture Ben presented as he sat on the steps, eyes 



18 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiii 



closed, elbow on knee, head in one hand and his rifle in the other. It 
seemed as though Ben had been deserted by his last friend. But far 
from it for many more were feeling just as Ben did. R. J. Herrick 
soon contributed his meal to the fish. From this time until most of us 
had got back on our feet again, you could hear many shouts of, "two 
bits he comes" etc. 



Boat Discipline 



As soon as we had sufficiently i-ecovered from our attack of sea 
sickness we were given drills for the purpose of keeping us in condition 
and also to get us familiar to moving about the boat so that when an 
alarm sounded we could get to our proper places with little loss of time. 
After a few drills we could all clear out of the holds and get to our 
proper places on deck in about three mintues. This pleased the Captain 
of the ship quite well. 



Inspection on 
Board 



Upon leaving Camp Mills we thought we were through with in- 
spections until we arrived in Europe. We were disappointed because 
the entire ship was inspected daily. This necessitated a thorough clean- 
ing every morning. So it fell to those who weren't sick to clean the 
boat. This cleaning was quite necessary as the lives of everyone on 
board would have been dangei'ous with the filth that collects on the boat. 



Precautions 



Owing to the danger from the subs we weren't permitted to have 
lights on deck after night. This was quite a hardship on the smokers 
as they had to crowd m the hatchways and each take his turn to get 
a "drag" on the "pimp". Everyone realized the necessity of such orders 
and so all kept a watch lest some one forget. This prevented the boats 
from being sighted by subs after dark. 



Submarines 



During the entire time we were on the boat there were men and 
officers who did nothing but keep a constant watch for the dreaded sub- 
marines. During a foggy day some of the officers, who were on guard, 
saw what they thought to be a torpedo coming toward the ship. Immed- 
iately they shouted, "Submarine! Submarine!". Needless to say that 
everybody was excited. Upon turning our eyes to the rear we soon 
recognized the "submarine" to be nothing but the ship's log. This was 
the only sub scare we had. The much dreaded submarine failed to 
materialize and so we were deprived of the privilege of seeing one. 



The "San Diego" 



There were several reasons why the subs made themselves scarce. 
One of the chief reasons was the San Diego, which battle cruiser was 
ploughing the water in search of game in the form of under-sea craft. 
But dispite the protection which she gave us she was sent to the bottom 
of the ocean on her retuin trip, a victim of the game she was playing. 



Armament 



Some other very good reasons for the shyness of the subs were 
the destroyers, sub chasers and the big guns which fired the much dread- 
ed "depth bomb." There were four of these guns on our ship and they 
were ever ready to hurl their projectile at an unsuspecting submarine. 



Ship's Canteen 



Although far from land we could still line up for canteen supplies 



19 



iniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



just as we had done many times previous to our sailing. From early 
in the morning until the supplies were all sold there was a line of 
soldiers waiting their turn to purchase tobacco, cigarettes, apples, 
oranges, pop, etc., which were sold by the Englishmen who operated the 
Canteen. Many an American dollar was spent for smokes, eats and 
drinks which were sold at a very good profit. This was the first of a 
series of robberies we bumped up against on our trip. 



The "Y" 



When we got tired of looking for whales, sharks, subs, we could 
get a good book at the "Y". Many were the hours spent in reading 
some interesting story as related by some novelist. Here the "Y" did 
a good service which was appreciated by all. 



"Chow" ! ! 7 ! An army fights on its stomach — Napoleon. From the way we 

were fed we are doubtful about the amount of fighting that bunch could 
have done. If they had lined up that bunch of English cooks I know 
there would have been some of them go "over the top" then and there. 
When a person has eaten rabbit, porridge and a few more appetizing 
dishes he is liable to do most anything desperate. Pies and cakes could 
be pv.rchased from the cooks. These same things should have been 
put out for our mess but instead, we had to pay high for them. Along 
about this time some of those feeds we used to kick about would cer- 
tainly have satisfied our appetites. 



Route of the 
"Leicestershire" 



Upon leaving the harbor of New York the convoy moved towards 
the north. The course followed was quite zig •ragged. This made it 
more difficult for submarines to locate the ship. We wended our way 
northward until within one hundred miles of Iceland when the course 
was changed to a south-easterly direction. We continued in this direc- 
tion until we rounded the northwestern coast of Scotland. From then 
we went in a southerly direction to our destination. 



First Sight 
of Land 



On the morning of June twenty-third we saw land for the first time 
in eleven days. We were more than glad to see the sunny shores of 
Scotland. Several men and officers had field glasses and through these 
we enjoyed the beautiful sights of the not far distant fields. It was at 
this time that we saw the first castles and light houses placed upon the 
rugged rocks near the water's edge and overlooking the sea for many 
miles. We could also see the green fields. The villages seemed to be 
very quiet as this was Sunday. 



Sunday on 
Board 



About ten o'clock, Chaplain O'Toole held services, which were for 
all, and gave thanks to Him who had protected us on our long and 
perilous voyage. Even though all were not present at those services I 
think everyone silently gave up thanks that he had been spared a 
watery grave. 



The Irish Sea 



As the day passed we kept moving along the western coast of 
Scotland, passed through the North Channel, which separates Scotland, 
and entered the Irish Sea. Now we could see land on both sides. To 
our right lay the land of the Shamrocks; to our left was Bonnie Scotland. 



20 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiii 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 



Liverpool 



Disembarkation 



Even though we were in the Irish Sea and within sight of land, it 
was necessary that the sub chasers keep a sharp lookout for submarines. 
We were quite near the harbor but that didn't seem to be any reason 
for the subs not appearing and doing their damage as we could see by 
the four masts of the sunken Tuscania — a sub victim. So up to the 
very mouth of the harbor we were accompanied by the little chasers 
which so diligently did their work of safeguarding the lives of so many 
troops who were on their journey to the bloody fields of Prance. 

Between nine and ten P. M. on Sunday June twenty-third we saw 
the gleaming lights of the harbor. The lights of the boat were turned 
on, cigarettes were lighted and everything was astir. Everyone was 
on deck to get a view of the harbor as it appeared in the dark. These 
sights will never be forgotten. There were the numerous tugs, trawlers, 
patrol boats, destroyers, cruisers, steamers and in fact nearly every kind 
of boat was seen in the harbor. The signal lights of the boats flashed 
in every direction. The buoys sounded and lighted as they were raised 
and lowered by the waves which rushed toward the shore. In the 
distance shone the lights of Liverpool. Light after light was left be- 
hind and finally we came to a stop near the dock where we were anchored 
until the following morning. Early on the morning of the twenty-fourth 
we weighed anchor and moved for the dock where we disembarked 
thus ending our long ocean voyage. 

After docking everyone was in a rush to get his belongings to- 
gether. We were soon ordered on deck by Captain Richmond. As it 
was some time before we had to disembark we lunched on "bully" and 
hard tack which had been previously issued to the different squads. As 
we sat on deck feeding our faces we took in the sights of the harbor, 
which we could see from our positions on the boat. At 12:30 we loaded 
our packs on our backs and beat it down the gang plank. We were 
lined up in colunm formation in a long warehouse prior to making the 
march to the railroad station. 



Toasted to 
the Nth Power 



English 
Trains 



With overcoats on and packs on our backs we marched thru the 
streets of Liverpool puffing and sweating under a very hot sun. All 
along the route taken we were given a very rousing reception. Colors 
were flying; men and women were packed along the sidewalks shouting 
their greetings as we wearily trudged on and on. British bands turned 
out to help in the welcome. They even tried to please us by playing 
up-to-date American i-agtime, such as Alexander's Ragtime Band. But 
to say the least the welcome the people of Liverpool gave us made us 
feel very happy. 

It was here that we got our first view of an English train. The 
cars seemed like dwarfs when compared to our own American cars. 
Although the coaches looked very "dinky" they were arranged in com- 
partments, accommodatmg eight men, and were quite comfortable. The 
engines were much smaller than the ones we were used to seeing but 
they had the power and speed. 

At 3 P M. we boarded the trains, put our packs out of the way 
and made ourselves as comfortable as possible. Soon we were going 
away from the station on our way to Oxley. 



21 




THE GUN PARK AT KAUSEN, GERMANY 



22 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



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Traveling 

Through 

England 



Rural England presented some beautiful scenery. The fertile fields 
surrounded with stone fences; the hills covered with the beautiful trees; 
the streams flowing quietly toward the ocean; the winding but well im- 
proved roads; all these attracted our attention as we were speeding 
along our way. The towns with their brick and tile buildings and the 
clean streets made a good impression on us. The absence of the farm 
houses seemed rather striking to u.s who had come from a place where 
they were numerous. Farming was carried on intensively. The fields 
of g-rain, hay and potatoes presented a scene quite diff'erent from what 
we had seen for several days on the boat. 



Camp Borden, 
Oxley 



Our first meal at this place consisted of soup, cheese, bread and coffee. 
Our appetites were keen and so we certainly ate our portion of the eats. 
Immediately after breakfast we were lined up in traveling squads and 
were assigned to tents in which we could stay during the short time 
we were to be at this camp. Ne.xt we proceeded to get a little rest 
which was much needed by all. A couple hours rest and we were out 
again. We now got busy bathing, washing clothes and cleaning up in 
general. Those baths were certainly cold but with a liberal application 
of soap and "beaucoup" rubbing we succeeded in removing a few coats 
of dirt that had collected on our bodies. 



British 
Veterans 



Here we had an opportunity to talk to some British soldiers who 
had seen service on the battle fields of France and Belgium. Many in- 
teresting and thrilling stories were told by these men who had been over 
the top. Vivid pictures of the conditions in the trenches were painted 
by these fellows who insisted upon making everything bloody. Even 
though we had never seen the front we figured that there was lots of 
"con" in their stories. It may be that they weren't trying to hand us 
anything but ne%er-the-less some of those tales were certainly exag- 
gerated to no small degree. 



Canteen Service 
At Oxley 



At this camp we had a chance to buy some things at the British 
Y. M. C. A. Tobacco, cigarettes, candy, cakes, paper towels, etc. could 
be purchased. In exchange for our American money they gave us 
English money. This offered no little difficulty as we were not familar 
vvith the value of difi'erent denominations of their money. Some of 
this was kept for souvenirs and had quit a trip along with us through 
France and Germany. 



To Southampton 



After resting and cleaning up we were on our way again. Eating 
an early lunch on June 27th we were off to the station where we en- 
trained for our last lap across the Old Albion. A few hours travel 
brought us to Southampton the chief port on the southern coast of 
England. We were soon off the cars, lined up and given orders as to 
what we could do and where we could go. Next we were given a 
physical e.xamination which, strange to say, everyone passed. After this 
we loafed around the docks, bought coffee, cakes, meat pies and crackers, 
and in fact did most anything to pass the time. 



On Board 
Again 



At 6 P. M. we were ordered to board the steamer Caesaria which 
carried us down the harbor and across the channel. As we moved 



23 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



slowly down the harboi- we viewed both shores. Many beautiful castles 
were to be seen along the way. A boat load of Red Cross Nurses was 
seen anchored in the harbor. Cheer after cheer passed from boat to 
boat as we passed by. On down the channel we silently steamed along, 
headed southward for France. 



Across the 

English 

Channel 



The trip was made in darkness because of the danger of submarines. 
As there were numerous patrol boats we passed across the channel with- 
out any misfortune. The rest that we received on this short trip across 
the channel was very little. We were crowded to the utmost. You 
could see fellows nearly everyplace trying to grab off a few minutes rest. 
In the room which was assigned to us the fellows were piled in every 
direction without regard as to whether they were on the floor or on 
some other fellow's feet. Imagine the consternation of Bucher when 
on awakening he found Ed. Nethers peacefully snoozing using U. J. 
for a mattress. That the fellows would sleep was shown, when upon 
looking behind a board which was rested upon one of the funnels, I 
found "Shrimp" cuddled up with Dickerson, both enjoying the comfort 
afforded by the warm funnel. 



La Havre 



The Hike 
to Camp 



Up and about early so as to get a glimpse of the French coast as it 
appeared thiough the ocean's mist, we were soon on deck viewing things 
as we passed on oui- way towards the harbor. Our breakfast on this 
morning consisted of a sliver of cheese, hard tack and coffee. As soon 
as we had downed our few bites we were ordered on deck with packs on 
our back. We then disembarked and were then lined up prior to hik- 
ing to the rest camp. 

On this hike we received some lasting impressions of La Havre. 
Many were the filthy, foul smelling streets through which we passed. 
Here we saw the screens back of which men stopped on either their 
way to or from their work. Despite the fact that the place was far 
from being sanitary there were many magnificent dwellings, surrounded 
with the customary stone wall, or fence and placed in such a way that 
they were noticeable. 



Here too, we had the pleasure of gazing at some Mademoiselles. 
As we trudged along with our packs we were given a few minutes rest 
occasionally. This was welcomed by all as it was rather a tough job 
carrying those packs especially when going up hill most of the time. 
During these rests we purchased things from the French. Oranges, 
figs and nuts were sold to us by women who seemed anxious to get rid 
of their supplies. During these purchases we had our first display in 
French money, francs and centimes, which were to cause us any amount 
of trouble later. 



The Rest (?) 
Camp 



A couple of hours hiking brought us to the rest camp. Here we 
were quartered in squad tents. About ten men to each tent. Being 
tired from our hike we took a few hours rest but were soon out viewing 
the sights m the vicinity of the place. While here we put in quite a 
lot of time at the British Y. M. C. A. writing to our friends back home. 
We took in a couple of movies which were shown at the "Y"; also pur- 



24 



THE 



TRAIL OF BATTERY D 

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chased cigarettes, candy, cakes, tea and lemonade. Up to this time the 
"Y" had served us well but hereafter our praises for its work for us 

amounted to nil. 



Belgium 
Refugee.s 



"Doc" Watkins 
Gets in Bad 



When the Germans invaded Belgium many of the inhabitants fled 
to France, especially to the cities. Here we saw quite a large number 
of these refugees who had fled before the terrible Huns. They presented 
a rather pitiful sight which inbued us with a stronger desire to get 
those barbarians who had thrust untold suff'erings upon the civilized 
world. As these refugees seemed to be suifering from hunger they 
were handed some bits of food by the soldiers who sympathized with 
them in their state of utter helplessness. 

This handing of food to the orphans v.as the cause of some excite- 
ment. "Doc" Watkins who gave some of his meal to a small Belgium 
child was caught in the act by the guard who walked that po.st. After 
coming to "port" arms he halted "Doc" and immediately informed him 
that he was under arrest. While awaiting the arrival of the Corporal 
of the guard, Dock used a little strategy. He asked the guard if he could 
rest. The guard gave him permission and at the same time came to 
"order" arms. "Doc" seeing his chance for escape immediately made 
one grand rush toward the tents. After knocking Johnson, Doesburg 
and a few others head over heels he do3ged behind a tent and was out 
of sight, thus robbing the guard of the honor of being a prisoner catcher. 



Other 
Happenings 



Seveial other happenings kept things interesting. "Stilly" insisted 
on washing his mess kit where he wasn't supposed to wash it. As a 
result he received a few compliments from the Sergeant of the guard. 
"Hufl"" persisted in buying "vin" from the French and Belgians until 
he was caught by the guards. These few happenings together with 
many others kept things from bemg monotonous. 



Again on 
the March 



We were scheduled to leave this camp on the 28th but were forced 
to lay over another day. On June 29th at 3:30 P. M. we left camp for 
the station. The hike to the station was much easier than the one from 
the boat to the camp as we were going down hill most of the way. All 
along tht" way we were greeted with cheers from the inhabitants who 
were to be seen everywhere and who seemed to be more than glad that 
we had come to their assistance at this critical time when everything 
looked rather gloomy with the allies. 



Palace cars 



Upon arriving at the station we were assigned to "Chevaux 8's", com- 
monly called side door pullmans. As cars were scarce they decided to 
put only thirty-eight men in each car. There wasn't hardly enough 
room for a person to turn around when the allotted number were in 
each car. We stacked our packs in the cars and then roamed around 
the station for half an hour. At 7:30 P. M. we started on our journey 
through western France. This was our first experience at riding in 
"Chevaux 8's". I don't think any of us %\ill forget the way we spent 
that night. As there was about one third enough room for us when we 
wanted to sleep, the first to get down were the ones who had enough 
room. I'he others had to do the best they could. All were glad when 



25 




A VIEW OF KAUSEN 



26 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



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the night \\as over and we could take a view of the country through 
which we were passing. The greater part of the 30th was spent riding 
through this beautiful part of France. Along the way we noticed the 
farms or rather the patches of land. Instead of the familiar fields we 
here sav.- innumerable patches of different crops, arranged in such a 
manner that the whole landscape looked like a crazy quilt. The patches 
of grain were alternated with patches of buckwheat, cabbage, and beets. 
No corn or tobacco was to be seen. This was due to the fact that the 
climatic conditions are not favorable for their growth. Along the way 
we saw many yokes of oxen slowly wending their way along the roads 
and through fields. The dinky carts to which they were hitched were 
rather odd looking. In fact most everything was difi'erent from what 
we were used to seeing in the States. 



Stone Houses 



The houses, which were of stone, in connection with the bams pre- 
sented a rather unsanitary appearance. From the Kitchen it was pos- 
sible, with only a few steps, to feed the horse, milk the cow and clean 
the stables. All of these things presented a scene novel to us. 



Bain de 
Bretagne 



About 6 J'. M. we ari-ived in Bain de Bretagne. Marching from 
the train to a field we were ordered to pitch our pup tents. As soon 
as we had completed this we went UT the station to get our barrack 
bags which we then carried to our tents. Upon the completion of this 
job we made our bunks and were soon in them snoozing at the rate of 
about 60 per. 



New Quarters 



The following morning July 1st, we struck tents and then had muster 
after which we again loaded our packs on our backs and moved into 
billets which were scattered throughout the town. Some \\eie quartered- 
ed in lofts, some in an old church and the remainder lived in pup tents 
which were pitched in a church yard. 



"Parlt-z Vous 
Francais" 



The next few days were spent in drilling, cleaning up ourselves and 
the town and taking in the sights of the old French village. As we 
hadn't had real eats since we left the States we suiely did relish the 
omelets, butter and other eats that we purchased at the Cafes or 
restaurants. A new difficulty now presented itself. It was now neces- 
sary that we learn to speak a little French. Everyone had his "Parlez 
Vous", book trying to master a few of the most important words. Some 
of the fellows who had studied French in school succeeded in mastering 
enough to enable them to get along with the French people of the village. 
Others who had never studied the language were up against it, so to 
speak, when it came to pronouncing the words, but, with the assistance 
of those who knew the fundamentals of the language, were soon able 
to "Parlez" for the'nselves. Many promising "Frenchman" were to be 
found in the organization by the time we left France. 



Restrictions 



Here, as at every other place where soldiers were billited it was 
necessary to have certain restrictions so as to preserve order among the 
soldiers and civilians. Tlie cafes were open to soldiers only between 
certain specified hours. After 9 P. M. no soldiers were permitted to be 



27 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



on the streets. Taps sounded at 10 o'clock. As was to be expected 
there were always some who failed to get to their billets at the proper 
time. This gave the M. P's, who were constantly on duty, a little pass 
time. When some one sipped too much wine he occasionally insisted 
on stajing out after the perscribed time, thereby getting to sleep in the 
"lock up". Despite the temptation our battery had very few who failed 
to live up to the regulations. 



July 4th 



On July 4th these orders were suspended and everyone had a chance 
to "shine" for a day. In the forenoon of this day a ball game was played 
between battery C and D in the field in which we had stayed the first 
night we were at Bain. In the afternoon a regimental review was 
staged before Colonel Ashburn and the Mayor of the town. Here the 
Mayor gave us an address of v.-elcome. His speech was interpreted by 
a French Lieutenant who was present. The band had played several 
selections including the Star Spangled Banner and the Marseillaise. 
Following this we were dismissed for the rest of the day with nothing to 
worry about. As we all know there was some real celebrating done after 
the bunch was turned loose. The "big- heads" on the following day was 
"beau coups" evidence that there had been some '.vho had spent a night 
of dissipation and revelry. 



Drill and 
more Drill 



A diill schedule was soon posted so that all could see what was to 
be done each day. This was a rather sad blow but all survived it. Hikes 
and drills occupied most of the time. As the fellows became tired of 
the same routine day after day, they began to plan some way in which 
they might get out of the hikes. All of the customary excuses were 
sprung for not going on the hikes for those whose dislike for said hikes 
prevented them from going with the other fellows. But these same 
fellows could be seen walking the streets until the time for turning in 
had arrived. Without a doubt some of the fellows did have sore feet, 
game legs, and the other common complaints but one noticable thing 
was the fact that on Sunday no "crips" were to be found. Such is the 
armv life. 



Again in the 
Pup Tents. 



Because of the unsanitary conditions of the billets our battery moved 
to a field where each man li\ed in a pup tent, until the battery moved 
to Coetquidan. This was a much more healthful place to live in but it 
had its inconveniences especially during the )-ainy weather when every 
one had to use every means he could contrive to keep himself and his 
equipment dry. 



Military 
Police 



A detail of eight men and one corporal from our battery was used 
for M. P. duty. They were on duty one third of the time. They had 
orders to see that every soldier was off of the streets and out of the 
cafes by the prescribed time. Occasionally "Vin rouge" was the cause 
of considerable trouble by causing the dissipator to insist on staying on 
the streets after the time for "turning in" had past. When some one 
insisted too strongly on staying on the streets it was the duty of the 
M. P's to give him a night's lodging in the jug. Our battery had very 
few who had the distinction of being "jug dwellers". 



28 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



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Our First 
155 M. M.'i 



The daily routine was changed when the 155 M. M. howitzers 
arrived. Instead of doing squads right and squads left we now did 
cannoneei's post. This being the first work that we had done with the 
155's it was quite interesting to all. Every one wanted to learn all 
that he possibly could about the howitzers. In addition to the drilling 
we received instructions on the use and care of the guns as well as the 
names and uses of each and every part. The amount of drill and in- 
stiTJction was limited owing to the fact that there were only three 
howitzers for six batteries. But the knowledge gained here was the 
foundation of what was to follow sometime later. 



Horses 



Now that the regiment had some material it was necessary to 
provide some means by which it could be moved from place to place. 
Accordingly some fifty horses were procured by the regiment. This 
demanded another slight change in the schedule. Details from the 
different batteries groomed and fed the horses every day. Lessons in 
equitation were given daily so as to familiarize the men with the duties 
of drivers. Although this work wasn't so unpleasant at first it after- 
wards caused many a man to say a few words that ne\ei- looked good 
in print. 



Hikes to 
the River 



The weather being exceptionally hot and the roads quite dusty, it was 
necessary for the men to bathe and wash their clothing quite frequently. 
To give them this opportunity a hike to the river was made about three 
times each week. The men all enjoyed the cool and invigorating swims 
they took at the old swimming hole. As soon as they were through 
with their swim they washed their dirty clothes. In this way the entire 
battery was kept in a clean, healthy condition. 



Positions 



At Sherman the battery took up positions, established an O. P. 
and telephone connections. Here they did the same thing over several 
times. The "Y" line was the cause of no little trouble. Lieutenant 
Thompson and "Red" Grimm tramped all of the clover down in a five 
acre field trying to find the said line. As their efl'orts to locate it were 
unsuccessful they were forced to prevaricate a little. As no one came 
around later they got away with it all right. Even though there were 
numerous "fakes" pulled they were valuable. 



Contribution 
to Orphans 



Among the children of Bain were a number of orphans who were 
unfortunate in losing their parents in the war. A campaign to raise 
money for their support was started by the regiment. Sergeant Wright 
was in charge of the campaign in our battery. With a good cause, 
for which to work, and plenty of pep and perseverence "Jim" succeeded 
in raising some five hundred and fifty francs. This, considering our pay, 
was no small donation. Had we done nothing else this one act made 
us an organization long to be remembered by the inhabitants of the 
small French village. 



To Coetquidan 



Everythmg was astir on the morning of August 13th because we 
had received orders to strike tents and pack our belongings preparatory 
to moving to the Artillery camp at Coetquidan. When everything was 
packed we carried our barrack bags to the station where they were 



29 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



loaded on to the train. About 10 o'clock we, wth our packs, loadea 
into trucks and we were soon on our way along the dusty roads. As 
everyone was quite hungry and thirsty the machines were halted and 
every one was permitted to get something to eat and drink. After 
which we again started on oui- way. At 2:30 we arrived at the camp, 
dust covered and tired from the trip. We were assigned to barracks 
in which we stayed that night. The following day we moved to different 
barracks where we were permitted to stay the greater part of the time 
we were at this place. 



Camp Coetquidan 



This camp is located in the hills of Brittany four kilometers east of 
Guer and thirty kilometers west of Rennes. It had been a camp prior 
to this war, as Napoleon, when he made the thrones of Europe totter 
because of his military genius, used the same place as a training camp 
for his artillery. Because of its location on the hill, from where one 
could see the surrounding country for several miles, it was an ideal 
place for an artillery camp and range. The hills across the valley, 
which surrounded the camp, aiiorded excellent targets. The camp con- 
sisted of three main parts. Namely the barracks, stables and range.. 
There was room to accommodate about 20,000 soldiers. The stables 
covered the eastern part of the camp and accommodated several thous- 
and animals. The range to the west was one of the best in France. 



The Great 
White Way 



There were many cafes, stores and restaurants along the road 
leading along the southern end of camp. This, commonly called "The 
Great White Way" oifered the soldiers a chance to get rid of their 
money. And without a doubt many were the francs that were squander- 
ed at this place. 



O'Grady 



Our first drills at this place were the O'Grady drills. Many were 
the steps taken by those who failed to do as O'Grady said. Those 
who had the bighead from the night before, were usually seen chasing 
back and forth from the line to the telephone post. This being the 
penalty for not doing the proper stunt. Those drills together with 
several games came in the morning and therefore served to limber us 
up for the day's work which followed. 



Special schools 



It was necessary to send men to school for special training and 
instruction. Liason, telephone, radio, machine gun, materiel, camouflage 
and orienting. Very valuable and necessary instruction was received 
by the men on these subjects. Besides these schools there was some 
practical work done on the dugouts by a detail of five men. The know- 
ledge acquired by them served quite well in the construction of places 
of safety later on when we were on the front. 



Horses 



Several days after landing at this place we received a bunch of 
horses which had been collected throughout Western France by the de- 
tail of men who left while the battery was at Bain. We soon knew 
what it was to care foi' a bunch of old horses. A detail of men fed them 
every morning before breakfast. The same detail fed at noon and in 
the evening. The remaindei- of the time they were busy cleaning the 
stables and the picket line. Every man in the battery had a chance 



30 




DUGOUTS AXD SCENES IX "CANAL STREET' 



31 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Equitation 



to use a curry comb and brush. Grooming at the best is a rather 
unpleasant job but in the army it is worse than ever. It has to be 
clone by detail. Most of us still remember orders in which the commands 
were given. 

In addition to the instructions on the care of the horse we took 
some lessons in riding and driving. Many interesting happenings 
occured during these instructions. Some of the fellows who had never 
ridden a horse before furnished the rest with plenty of laughter. Some 
real wild west stunts were pulled off. 



Maneuvers 



Guns and Drill 



While at Bain we had been drilled on arm signals. Here the signals 
were given and the different movements were executed by the drivers. 
Every man in the battery knew most of the signals as well as the way 
in which the different guns and caissons were to move. All this required 
a great amount of drill which became quite monotonous especially when 
the sun was beating down on us with its most intense heat. But despite 
all the difficulties Captain Richmond never gave up until he had secured 
the desired results. The value of their instruction was shown when the 
battery took positfons on the range and also, when we took hikes. 

While at Bain the regiment received four 155's. Each battery took 
its turn at drilling with them. The men became more or less familar 
with them during these drills but because of the small amount of time 
that each battery put in on them the men still had lots to learn about 
the guns. Not long after we came to Coetquidan we received our full 
quota of guns. Now it was possible to do unlimited amount of drill 
with them. Nearly every day the entire battery under the instruction 
of Lieutenant Crego was given an opportunity to be on a gun squad. 
The pieces were unlimbered and limbered innumerable times so as to 
familiarize the men with the duties of each position on the squad. Even 
though the men knew the duties of each cannoneer they never realized 
the extreme amount of hard work that was before them. 



Gas 



Back in Camp Sherman we had received a small amount of gas 
instruction, had gone through the gas house, and had drills with the 
gas masks. Here we were impressed more strongly with the extreme 
destructiveness of the poisonous gases that were used by the Germans 
against the Allies. One half hour each day was spent in listening to 
lectures given by Lieutenant Row. These lectures besides being in- 
teresting were very valuable because of the information they contained 
concerning the detection and the action of the different gases. 



Now that we had received this valuable information, the next thing 
was to drill in the use of the mask until we could get it on in the least 
possible time. To that end all efforts were bent, until the desired results 
were obtained. The next thing to be done was to get used to wearing 
the masks. It was surely a most difficult thing to do. I think all will 
remember how we dreaded the hour during which we had to wear the 
masks. We were told that on the front it was necessary for the men 
to wear masks for several hours at a time and at the same time do 
their woi-k. In order to be able to do the work while wearing masks 



32 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



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it was necessary to drill us while we were wearing them. Many hours 
were spent in this torturous way. After all of these instructions and 
drills we were able to get our masks on in exceptionally good time and 
were able to wear tliem for a couple of hours. Gas ! ! 



Range 



The effects of the hard drilling we had done, together with the in- 
structions we had received were shown when we went to the range to 
do some actual firing with the big guns. So thorough had been our 
training that in a little over four weeks, a record never equaled by 
anothei- brigade, we were ready to move to the front and try our skill 
with the guns on the Germans. This work on the range was done 
under conditions that resembled the front as nearly as possible. Of 
course there weren't G. I. cans coming our way. Problem after problem 
was fired until every one became familiar with his own part of the work. 
On several occasions gas masks were worn during the firing. This 
slowed up the work but made it none the less effective. After becoming 
familiar with the work while firing during the day we went to the range 
for thirty-six hours. During this time we did some night firing as well 
as taking part in a barrage which was the first we had seen. 



During all this work the one thing that impressed one most was 
the smoothness in the execution of the -^i-ork of the different sections. 
Here too, each man gained some idea of the importance of his particular 
work as well as some of its disagreeableness. The work on the range 
was highly satisfactory to all concerned. 



Night Hikes. 



Non-Coni's 
Banquet 



The bane of army life is night hikes. While at Sherman we took 
several hikes but as we had no bases or materiel it was necessary that 
we go through the same torture again. Horses, guns, caissons, four- 
gons and the kitchen were taken on these trips. The drivers as well 
as the other men received some very valuable experience but our hiking 
had only begun. It seems as though we walked an awful distance but 
when compared to the walking we did later it was only a drop in the 
bucket. 

Captain Richmond gave an exceptionally fine dinner for the non-com- 
missioned officers of our battery a few nights before we left Coetquidan. 
This occasion was one long to be remembered by all who were present. 
The numerous courses were delicious and every fellow's appetite was 
satisfied when he had eaten his share. The eats weren't all. Smokes 
and fine wines were there in unlimited supply. 



We're Off tor 
the Front 



Captain Richmond acted as toastmaster. Short impromptu talks were 
made by the oflRcers and several of the non-com's. These were very 
interesting as they covered numerous subjects, including George's 
mustache. After enjoying the festivities and sociability of the evening 
we returned to our barracks well satisfied with our evenings entertain- 
ment, and with a better understanding of our oflicers under whom we 
worked. 

The day for which many had wished had come. Our training was 
completed and we were ready to move to the front, which at that time. 




THE SHEEP HERDER OF KAUSEN 



34 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



iiiiifiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiitiiiii 



was any thing but quiet. Everything was in readiness and about eight 
thirty on the morning of September 23rd we were off on our way to 
Guer. Arriving there about nine-thirty we immediately began to get 
our horses and materiel loaded onto the cars which were at the station. 
The loading was done in record time. Every movement showed the 
effects of a master supervision. 

As soon as the loading had been completed the men were assigned 
to cars, eats were distributed and everyone partook of bully, hard tack 
and tomatoes. We were all set for our trip. At 1:11 the train left the 
station and Guer was soon left far in the rear. 



Thru France a la 
"Chevaux 8" 



Many beautiful places were seen along the way, especially along 
the Seine. Some of the most important cities through which we passed 
were Rennes, Le Mans and Melon. We were within sight of Versailles 
and Paris. The Eiffel tower could plainly be seen from the train on 
which we were riding. The country near Paris was quite different from 
the hills and rocks of Brittany. As we entered the valley along the 
Seine the country was rather hilly again. 



Kodorigo Stopped 
to "Cushez" 



The trip was without incidents, e.xcept that Rodorigo who had 
stepped off of the car in which he wasj-iding, with the intention of 
getting on a car in the rear, failed to catch said car. It looked as though 
"Roddy" would be left some where in the rear while the rest were con- 
tinuing our trip. But the train was brought to a stop and he once more 
boarded the train all the wiser from his experience. 



Penquitf's 
Imagination 



While we were about one hundred miles from our destination Ser- 
geant Penquite, whose imagination is rather keen, informed us that he 
had heard the booming of the big guns which were at the front. We 
were used to Penny's "wild spells" and paid no attention to his continued 
assurance that he could plainly hear the roaring guns. Even though 
no others could hear the roar, "Penny" could never be convinced that 
he hadn't heard the guns. 



Revigny 



On the Way 
the Front 



A three day ride m our "Chevaux 8's" brought us to Revigny on 
the morning of September 26th. We immediately began to unload our 
horses and materiel. As it was raining we had a rather disagreeable 
job but despite the inclement weather we were ready to move away at 
the proper time. As we moved through the streets of Revigny we saw 
some effects of German air raids. Several of the buildings had been 
wrecked. Here too we saw some American "Y" women, the first we 
had seen since we left the States. 

A hike of several kilom.eters brought us to a field where we halted 
at six P. M. A picket line was soon put up, the horses were fed and 
then we got a few bites to eat. Several airplanes flew over the field 
in battle formation. They had done their day's work and were return- 
ing to their hangars. Some of our men went to see two wrecked 
American planes in a nearby field. Near here were several graves of 
men who had fallen on the field of battle. After taking in the sights 
we found places where we could rest a few hours. Our rest was soon 



36 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



interrupted by the whistle. Every one had to get out and do his share 
of work in order that the battery might move out at the proper time. 
Everything was in readiness and at midnight we pulled onto the road 
and headed for Waly Woods at which place we arrived at 9 A. M. 
September 28th. Here we halted for a rest. The woods were quite 
muddy and it was rather a hard job to find a place at all suitable to 
pitch a pup tent. Brush piles, limbs, boards, hay and leaves were used 
to keep us out of the mud while we slept. All drivers were roused at 
about three P. M. so that they could care for their horses. As soon 
as we had eaten a lunch the teams were hitched ready to pull out as 
soon as it grew dark. In the evening it commenced raining and dark- 
ness was soon upon us. One of the guns was stuck in the mud and so 
we failed to get out at the proper time. At eight o'clock we were all 
moving from the woods through mud and rain. A darker night would 
have been impossible. 

Captain Richmond At this time a hard blow was dealt the battery when Captain Rich- 

Transferred mond was assigned to Brigade Headquarters. Every man in the battery 

felt rather blue when we found that the man who had done so much for 
us had been taken from us when we needed him most. Had it not been 
for the Captain's able assistants we would have been in a rather per- 
plexing situation. Lieutenant Palmer took charge of the battery and 
under his efficient command we remained until after the armistice was 
signed. 

Bois de Hess A long disagreeable hike brought us to the shell shattered to^\•n of 

Parvois about 2 A. M. Sunday September 29th. We had a rather difficult 
task to find quarters in which to grab off a handful of sleep. It didn't 
take long to "roll in" after we found a spot in which we could keep dry. 
At 8 o'clock we had to "roll out" and get our breakfast. We then pre- 
pared to move on our way toward the front. This next lap brought us 
to the Hesse Woods where we pitched our pup tents and rested for 
several days. 

During our short stay in these woods we saw quite a few things 
of interest. The battle field which had been the scene of some severe 
fighting two days before was strewn with the debris of shell-fire. 
Barbed-wire entanglements, shell craters, shells, trenches, grenades, 
rifles, machine guns, — in fact everything that is found on any battle 
field could be seen here. Although the Germans had been driven back 
several kilometers they were still able to drop shells in the neighborhood 
of Montfaucon, which could easily be seen from the edge of the woods. 
One lanky corporal was kind enough to carry back a Hun helmet to 
show his comrades. He won the name of "Souvenir Hound" and ever 
afterwards lived up to all expectations. Some thrilling air fights were 
witnessed. Two Bosche planes were brouglit down one forenoon. 
Several other fights and pursuits were witnessed by those who had 
field glasses. 

Several doughboys who had been wounded or gassed stopped in 
this place on their way to some first aid station. It was only natural 
that we converse with them and get some real live news from the front. 



86 




LIFE IX KALSE.N 



37 



THE TRAIL OF 



llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 

BATTERY D 



Many thrilling experiences were related by these fellows who had been 
over the top. 

Here we saw many big guns that had been used in the big offensive 
against the Huns. The "Frogs" were moving them up to new positions 
in the vallev of the West. 



Gas ! ! 



While we were snoozing away one night we were awakened by the 
gas alarm. Every one immediately grabbed for his mask. Some had 
been mislaid and so those fellows to whom the masks belonged were 
out of luck. Some in their excitement even tried to put their heads in 
rubber boots. No deatlis resulted as there was no gas. It was only a 
false alarm. 



On to Nixeville 
Woods 



On the afternoon of October third we got everything in readiness 
to move out at six o'clock. We were off at the proper time but before 
we had gone very far we were held up by a motor supply train. About 
ten o'clock we were able to move on our way. We arrived at Nixeville 
about ten o'clock on October fourth. We immediately found places to 
sleep for a few hours. In the afternoon every thing was prepared to 
move but new orders came in so we stayed at this place until the follow- 
ing afternoon. F)'om here a reconnaissance party was sent out to get 
some information concerning the position which we were to take up. 



First 
Position 



Our First 
Barrage 



Three "Chariot du Pares" left Nixeville for the position at noon 
vvith ammunition. The remainder of the battery left in the evening 
and arrived at Mari-e at two o'clock. From here the guns were moved 
across the J\leuse river and the Nord Canal to the position along the 
east bank of the canal. The fourgons moved to a clump of trees to the 
left of the position but after a few G. I's landed close to the place, orders 
were given to move to another place. Some of the men went to the 
position while the remainder of the men with the fourgons went to the 
picket line. 

At daybreak on Sunday morning October 6th the cannoneers began 
to work on the gun positions. The first thing to be done was to camou- 
flage the positions so that they couldn't be detected by the Huns. As 
soon as the camouflaging had been completed the men began to enlarge 
the positions which had previously been occupied by the 75's. This was 
a rather laborious undertaking but it had to be done and so every one 
did his utmost to finish the work as soon as possible. Two days work 
with pick and shovel completed the positions. On the afternoon of the 
seventh the guns were adjusted and laid so that everything could be 
ready for the following morning. Everything was all set but the 
ammunition hadn't arrived. About 8:30 in the morning the French 
began to bring in the shells and fuses. Several barges with 155's were 
unloaded by the available men. In all over fifteen hundred rounds were 
unloaded at our positions. This done the gun crews were dismissed so 
that they could get some rest before the "H" hour arrived. 

The gun squads "hit the deck" at 4 A. M. Several shells were 
cleaned and greased, the bores and breech were cleaned thoroughly, 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiini 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



powder, fuses and primers wore distributed properly, everybody and 
everyrliing was now ready for the command — "Load", which was given 
two minutes before the "H" hour arrived. At 5:00 on the morning of 
October the eighth, No. 4 gun was fired, thus commencing the terrific 
bai'rage whicli drove the Germans back some six or seven kilometers. 
This firing was continued until 12:30 — seven hours — dui-ing which time 
our men and guns sent nearly twelve hundred shells over to Fritz who 
didn't seem to be able to withstand the blow. Much credit must be 
given the cannoneers for their work during the fii'ing. It was no easy 
job to handle "pig iron" for several hours. 



Effects 



This was the first barrage in which we participated while on the 
front, but despite the fact, it produced the desired results. The Ger- 
man's entanglements, trenches and dugouts were destroyed and the 
Huns who were in the trenches were either killed or forced to retreat 
several kilometers. 



Second 
Position 



As we were now out of range it was necessary that we move to a 
more advanced position. On the afternoon of October ninth everything 
was put in readiness for a move to a new position. Under cover of 
darkness the battery was moved about seven kilometers to a place a 
short distance northwest of Samogniux. We arrived at this place about 
one o'clock ana immediately began to fix places to sleep until daybreak 
when we were ousted. The guns were soon put into position and 
camouflaged. Quite a lot of firing was done throughout the day. A few 
of F)itz's shells came our way but they did no damage. 

The gun squads kept improving the gun positions which were just 
at the edge of the road in a very exposed place. Several barrages were 
fired and intermittent firing was kept up during the entire time we were 
at this place. 

During the time the men weren't busy firing or unloading ammuni- 
tion they were working on dugouts. Many varieties could be seen along 
Canal Street and along the road. Even though these dugouts would 
never have stopped a G. I. Can the men felt more at ease than when in 
pup tents. The picket line was about a kilometer in the rear of the 
position. The drivers were kept busy cleaning their horses, hauling 
gravel and ammunition, wading mud, digging dugouts and dodging Hun 
shells which were fired at the i-aihoad guns on top of the hill. Their 
life while on the front and on the trip to the Rhine was one of hard- 
ships and trials. Their work is sometimes overlooked by those who 
did other work. 



On October 28th we received orders to suspend work on the dugouts 
and get ihings ready to move as we were ready to be relieved and would 
move back to a rest camp for a few days rest. At 9:30 P. M. we moved 
out of the position. The guns and caissons with the gun crews moved 
to Camp Moujouy while the fourgons and chariot du pares were held at 
the picket line until the following morning when they, too, moved to 
the sam.e place to which the guns and caissons had moved during the 
night. The hike was a long and tiresome one and so when we arrived 
at rest camp we were all glad to spread our blankets at the first avail- 
able place. Some of the men stayed in buildings while the remainder 
were content to live in pup tents. Some of the buildings had this one 




THE BUEGOMASTER OF KAUSEN 



40 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiii 

THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



word, "COOTIES" on the door. That was enough. No one bothered 
those buildings in the least. The following day was spent in taking 
things easy. Every one was willing to rest every time a chance came 
his way. Orders to move back to the front were received on October 
31. We were to move out at 1:00 P. M. but for .some reason we were 
held up until 2:30 at which time we once again started on our way to- 
ward battle fields. At one o'clock on the morning of November 1st 
we halted for a short rest. All were chased out about six o'clock. 
After eating a few bites of breakfast we were off again. This day's 
hike took us through the bloody fields where severe fighting had been 
carried on only a couple of days previous. The roads were in a terrible 
condition. They had been torn up by the heavy shells that had been 
fired at the enemy, who had occupied the territory but were forced to 
retreat. Travel over these roads was rather slow. We halted in the 
Argonne Forrest for the night. Finding a place to pitch a pup tent 
was a rather difficult job because of the great number of shell craters, 
broken trees, and mud holes. Breakfast was eaten the following morn- 
ing and then the teams were hitched preparatory to moving. It began 
to rain about 8 o'clock and kept it up the remainder of the day. Be- 
cause of a I'ather steep hill and the difficulty encountered by the organiza- 
tion ahead of us we were unable to move until two o'clock. The hike 
was a most m.iserable one. The rain and mud made walking rather 
difficult. Every one was ready to expre.ss his opinion of the army on 
the slightest provocation. On and on through the mud we moved slowly 
until we halted near the shell shattered town of Cierges. Here we 
found places to sleep in the dry. Along towards morning some Hun 
shells went sizzing over the town. They worried only a few as most 
of us were too tired to pay any attention to such a small thing as a ten 
or twelve inch shell. 

We were out at 7 o'clock, ate breakfast, hitched the teams and were 
off on a short hike to the hills to the east of the town. The distance 
we had to go was small but the road was nothing more than a strip 
of mud through which travel was most difficult. We finally arrived at 
our destination and immediately began to pitch our tents so that we 
could have a place to rest. We made things as comfortable as possible 
as we had been told that we would be there a couple of days. 

We were now at a place where the effects of the fighting could easily 
be seen. It vas a good place for our souvenir hunters to make an 
addition to their collections. They were warned about the danger in 
picking \ip anything from the fields or dugouts. This failed to cause 
any pause in their eft'orts to gather in a few curios. Luckily no ac- 
cidents occurred. . 

The day of the fourth was spent in cleaning up a little. Baths were 
taken and the dirty clothes were washed. This was the first opportunity 
we had to clean up for quite a few days. 

Things were quiet on the fifth, with the exception of a few Hun 
shells that landed at the cross roads a short distance from the woods. 
We turned in at the usual time only to be chased out at 11 o'clock. We 
then had to pack things and get ready to move out. This was an awful 
job but it had to be done. The night was exceptionally dark but with 
the aid of lanterns we were able to get on the road without any mishaps. 
Guns boomed all along the way. It was nearly daybreak when we pulled 
into the "mud hole" or Bois de Rappes. 



41 



^r TI R TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



At this place we all got used to wading through mud. It was every 
where. Those who slept in pup tents had to build platforms so as to 
keep out of the mud. Some new clothes were issued to the fellows who 
needed them most. The wirele.ss reports were eagerly read so that we 
could keep tab on the news from the different fronts. The souvenir 
hunters again took the field and made several valuable additions to 
their collections. 

On November the ninth we pulled out of the mud onto the road and 
were off on our last move before the Armistice was signed. Our hike 
ended at 12 o'clock, midnight, at which time we ate supper and then 
rolled in for a short nap. On the morning of the tenth the drivers whose 
horses were able had to help move the guns of the other battalions to 
their last positions which were about fourteen kilometers from Vilosnes. 
The remainder of the battery moved to Vilosnes where they found or 
built places in which to stay out of the weathei-. Here we were when 
the Armistice reached us. 

A detail of men went to Montfaucon to get horses for the battery. 
On the same day Major General Haan inspected the battery. A bath 
house was fixed up and every man in the organization liad a chance to 
take a bath and clean up in general. 



The Armistice 



The armistice was signed. In the minds of all the war was practically 
over. Each knew that peace was just a question of days. When we 
received the news, there was no great demonstrations of joy; no cheer- 
ing, no shooting, no noise of any kind. Had the news come as a sur- 
prise undoubtedly the effect \voukl have been more pronounced. But 
for many days we had been expecting such a report, and although the 
effect was not so great as could be expected under the circumstances, 
yet on the face of all was an expression characteristic of the victor. 
That grave and determined look was changed slightly. Every mind 
turned instinctively toward home and friends. Each thought of the 
future and at that time the past and the present were forgotten. In 
the hearts of all was a thankfullness to God for the cessation of hos- 
tilities. 

Discipline which previous to November 11th had been so necessary 
was lessened to a certain extent. The danger from aeroplanes had 
necessitated the showing of no lights during the nights. All windows 
had to be light proof; no one could smoke cigarettes upon the streets; 
headlights upon vehicles were prohibited. Now it was all changed. All 
the above restrictions were abolished, and many plans of the future were 
made around the camp fires that following night. 



Attached to Army 
of Occupation 



But our army life was not so near completion as so many of us had 
expected. Major Genei'al Haan, commanding the 32nd Division in an 
address to the officers and the non commissioned officers of the regiment 
stated, "that according to the present schedule the 32nd had been selected 
as one of the divisions to establish a watch on the Rhine in accordance 
with the terms of the armistice." Its selection was partly because of 
the fact of its effective work upon the front and because of its citations 
by General Pershing himself. The boys were pleased at the prospect 
of the coming trip. No thoughts of hardships entered our minds. The 
Khine, that famous river which the majority of us had read of in our 



42 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiKii 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



New Assignments 



The Start 



The Route 



The Trip 



school years or to be more specific, Coblenz or its immediate vicinity, 
was to be our goal. 

Many of our horses which had been assigned to us at Camp de 
Coetquidan were unfit for further service, and as many had died during 
our activities at the front, we were sadly deficient in the number of 
horses required for the long march. This was corrected by a new assign- 
ment of harness and horses. 

Early on the morning of November 17, 1918 we were awakened by 
that most despicable of all bugle calls, namely the first call. Hastily 
preparing our packs, and leaving behind us many billets better than 
any which we had hitherto possessed, we assembled all the materiel. 
All men possible and all men having some experience were immediately 
detailed to fit the new harness to the horses. The morning was cold, 
in fact too cold to work without gloves, and this fact combined with the 
darkness and unruly horses made the task a disagreeable one. But 
after a short time which seemed hours to a good many of the idle ones, 
everything was ready and at six o'clock we started in an easterly direc- 
tion, in the usual formation, i. e. guns leading followed by the chariots 
de pare and fourgons. 

Our line of march lay in a north-easterly direction and there were 
not many kilometers lost in out of the way traveling. But every one 
can remember a certain day, when we traveled from Mundershied to 
Dries, a distance of twenty-eight kilometers, and then were informed that 
we were three kilometers nearer Coblenz. On that day we traveled 
in a noith-westerly direction, or in other words at right angles to our 
original line of march. At one point in our journey near Longuey, 
France, we were able to see France, Belgium and Lexembourg. 

The trip was a very successful accomplishment. The actual time up- 
on the road was seventeen days, and the trip was approximately two 
hundred and forty-two kilometers in length, making an average of 
fourteen kilometers per day. The entire one hundred and ■ fifty-eighth 
brigade was highly complimented by men of high rank upon the record 
made and the splendid morale and discipline of the troops during the 
march. Gen. Lassiter, our new commander of the 32nd Division, in a 
letter of congratulation to the regiment stated that: — "Throughout 
this long march and its many difficulties the division has kept closed up, 
prepared for action and it now stands on the Rhine concentrated, and 
ready for whatever may come. This feat will stand among the many 
memorable achievements of the division. Hereafter officers and men 
will recall it with pride." 

One of the sayings of the late J. P. Morgan, the financial king, is: — 
"To dodge difficulties is to lose the power of decision," and I believe the 
i-egiment followed this policy, for whenever difficulties such as a hard 
climb or a bad road presented itself we never dodged it. We made the 
cliiub and at no time in the whole journey did we meet with any in- 
surmountable difficulties. The roads, or rather the majority of them 
\vere in fine condition especially the French and the Luxembourg roads, 
and this fact combined with the fine weather undoubtedly accounted for 
the record made. 



44 



THE TRAIL OF 



llllllllllltlllllllllltllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllliiiiitiiiiiiiii 

BATTERY D 



The Morale 



At the beginning of the trip the boys were in fine spirits. The hope 
of going home soon, kept them from becoming pessimistic. In fact a 
rumor was soon spread to the effect that at the end of our trip a sur- 
prise awaited us. A surprise in the shape of being relieved, and an 
parly return to the States. At all times during the trip could be heard 
this rumor, although slightly changed each time. The most persistent 
version of it was that we would be relieved on the fifteenth and sail 
on the eighteenth. Although the majority of the boys did not believe 
this yet it sounded so good that it produced a cheerful effect. And 
although the rumors were afterwards proA-en false, yet had it not been 
for them the morale of the troops would have been greatly weakened. 
At the end of a twenty-five or a thii-ty kilometer day's hike when the 
spirits of all were lading, when every one was cold and tired, when 
every one was hungry and sleepy, and to quote from "Doc" Watkins; — 
"You feel like checking," there was nothing so encouraging as that 
rumor. The most discouraging thing was to start early in the morning, 
march all day without much dinner or supper and then finish the trip 
at about ten o'clock that night, stretch picket lines, help take care of 
the horses, find your roll and start for an unknown billet, and then hear 
that pleasant voice of the top sergeant say: — "Hey you! You're on 
guard." Then and especially then will you use some very strong words. 
Considering all of the hardships which we had to endui'e the morale of 
the troops were something remarkable, and that characteristic, "stick 
to it," which is so emphasized in the Yanks was surely shown in Battery 
D. It cannot be denied but that the trip was nearly unbearable to the 
majority, but the fact that there was scarcely any knocking gave proof 
that the fellows weie made of the right stuif. As one of the boys re- 
marked: — "She's a great old fire, but we're going to put her out" and 
we did put her out and although volumes could be written pertaining to 
the morale of the troops, yet it could be briefly summed up in three words 
namely: — inferior to none. 



Discipline 



The same saying could easily be applied to the discipline of the 
battery. When at Vilosnes, France, our discipline was lax. Men marched 
where ever they wished, packs were not attached to the wagons in a 
very uniform manner; rifles were tucked into the wagons. Some men 
had rolls containing seven or eight blankets while others contained only 
three. Each man carried on his back the equipment which he most 
desired. Many were without packs. Some of the men wore helments, 
some caps, while others wore knit caps. No pride was taken in our 
equipment. From a militax-y view point the outfit presented a very bad 
appearance and it even would have produced a bad effect upon any civilian 
who by chance should have happened to watch the march. Although 
many knew that we were deficient in that respect yet the fault was 
not coirected until wc stopped at Brouch, Luxembourg. Then by a 
series of rigid inspections, it was discovered that our greatest fault laid 
in the lack of uniformity. Consequently, a long list of orders pertain- 
ing to the above were enforced. As a result a greater burden was 
shifted to the soldiers. Each one now was compelled to carry his rifle, 
and a pack containing certain specified articles. Each roll was to contain 
the same numoer of blankets, all men weie compelled to walk directly 
back of their pieces, and through the larger towns at attention, and 
although it made the trip more disagreeable to a certain extent, yet we 



45 




SCENES ABOUT KAUSEN 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



were amply repaid by the remarkable change which the enforcement of 
such orders produced. 



Drivers and 
Cannoneers 



In writing of these subjects it is advisable to consider the drivers 
first, as they played the more conspicious part in the trip. Just 
sheer grit, perseverance and a foi'getfulness of everything except duty 
kept them on the job. Their work was by far more disagreeable than 
that of the cannoneers. Before breakfast they were at it and at the end of 
a long trip they were the last to "turn in" for the night, usually getting 
the worst hillets. Their only advantage was that they rode and the 
cannoneers walked. Their advantage was not so important upon a cold 
day but when it was warm, — many were the envious glances directed 
towards the drivers. 



The cannoneeis, the soldiers who hiked in the true sense of the word, 
marched back of the piece or the wagon to which they were assigned. 
To them fell the lot of guard duty, fatigue details, assisting the drivers, 
and other small jobs from which the drivers were exempt. One of the 
disagreeable tasks to which the cannoneers were subject, was pushing 
a howitzer or wagon up a hill assisted by the horses. One of the 
slogans of the brigade was: — "Don't kill the horses, let the men do it." 
Neveitheless many of the horses died, and still more were put in the 
unfit class. 

Points of Interest The larger towns through which we passed could all be considered 

(en route) as points of interest. Places such as Longuey, Bitburg, Daun an Karlick 

were especially interesting in comparison with Americap cities of the 
same size. Near Munderschied was a deep ravine which was noted for 
its natural beauty. But oNsing to the fact that we passecj through it in 
the night we were denied the pleasure of seeing it. Luxembourg and 
Coldenz were both seen from the distance and the fact thsit we expected 
lo march through both of them caused a large amount of grumbling. 
The Rhine river was a bitter disappointment to the majority of the 
boys. Our expectations exceeded the real thing. We were expecting 
ruined and modern castles, high cliffs, etc., and crossing the river at 
Urmitz, we naturally were disappointed. Villers, Brouch, Octendung, 
Kelberg, Breitenau and Kausen were the villages in which we billeted 
for more than one night. 



Brouch and 
Thanksgiving 



On November 23 after an eighteen kilometer hike we moved into 
a small village in Luxembourg by the name of Brouch. In looking back 
over the trip, Brouch was about the most di.sagreeable stop of all. It can 
be briefly described in three words: — "rain, mud and inspections." We 
were so near the evacuating German troops that it was necessary to 
stop here for one week. 



Thanksgiving was a farce, although the day was a holiday for all 
except the drivers, yet it was undoubtedly a failure. For four con- 
secutive days it had been raining and on that day contrary to our hopes 
it did not cease. We pulled out on December 1, 1918. This date was a 
memorable one for it marked our entrance into German territory. 



47 



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IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIII 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Attitude of 
Germans 



The reception by the Germans was all that could be expected. In 
each town where the batterj- was billeted the German populace received 
the boys in silence and in many instances with welcome. Although 
orders were strict as to fraternizing with the natives yet many of the 
boys enjoyed free meals which reminded them of the days when they 
put their feet under "Dad's" table. 



The Finish 



In the evening of the 14th of December, the date of our crossing the 
Rhine, we weie billeted in a small town located three kilometers from 
the river. The next night we billeted in SajTi. Early next morning we 
started on the last lap of our trip, it being in a north-easterly direction 
and at three o'clock in the afternoon we marched into Breitenau. For 
thirty days we fed, groomed and exercised horses, cleaned materiel and 
washed harness. Christmas was a repetition of Thanksgiving with snow 
being substituted for rain. Many of the boys received Christmas boxes 
from home and all of the fellows received a box from the Y. M. C. A., 
both being greatly appreciated. 



Leaving 
Breitenau 



On Decembei 27th we were given orders to move and early next 
morning we hiked what really was the last lap of our trip. The trip 
was by far the shortest ever made in one day. Its total length being 
only three kilometers. Likewse it was by far the most disagreeable 
days march of all. The rain which had fallen during the previous day 
had frozen in the night, and the roads were practically a sheet of ice. 
During the trip, .scores of horses which had not been rough shod suffered 
many a hard fall. Rain and sleet also added to the unpleasantness of 
the trip. It required one-half of a day to complete the trip, and many 
of the boys were half frozen at its conclusion. 



Kausen, although not as large as Breitenau, undoubtedly furnished 
us with better billets. Many of the fellows did not like the town at first 
on account of its size, but in time this feeling gradually passed away. It 
can be briefly described as a typical German village containing one saw 
mill, one flour mill, one school house, one Gasthaus and thirty-three 
houses. We were given the best billets possible and seemed satisfied. The 
regular old duty routine was again enforced, and the caring for the 
horses and keeping the materiel in fine shape occupied most of our time. 



Motorization 
of Regiment 



Altho our Regiment departed from Camp Sherman as a motorized 
outfit, yet all thru our campaigns on the Front and the March to the 
Rhine, hoi'ses were used. But shortly after we arrived at Kausen we 
were informed that we were to be really motorized. Consequently Battery 
D was reorganized in accordance with the original tables of motorization 
and now, after the need of motors was not so urgent, we were fortunate 
enough to secure eleven trucks, two White touring cars and ten cater- 
pillar tractors; also one motorcycle and two bicycles. The necessary 
reorganization of the battery made the drivers suddenly lose their 
significance, and the ninth section, which previously had contained a 
mixture of cooks and mechanics, now secured quite a number of chauf- 
feurs, both for the trucks and for the tractors. Battery D soon proved 



48 



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lllllllllllllllltllMIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



itself an efficient unit in its quick and successful adjustment to these 
new conditions. 



Suspense Ended 



Shortly afterwards we were notified that the 32nd Division was 
scheduled to sail during the first part of May. Although three months 
seemed a long time, yet the announcement eliminated all suspense and 
the eternal question, "when are we going heme," was soon forgotten. 



Review 



In the latter part of February, near Dierdorf, Gen. Pershing reviewed 
the entire 32nd Division. In this review Battery D still upheld its 
supremacy and was highly commended for the appearance and condition 
of both personnel and materiel. Such a commendation, coming as it did 
from the commander of American Forces in Europe, was greatly appre- 
ciated, for the boys had previously worked very hard to make a creditable 
appearance. 



Recreation and 
Amusement 



Our long wait of three months was relieved of some of its monotony 
by the Y. M. C. A. located upon the second floor of the Gasthaus. It 
contained a canteen, (a God-send to the boys), a piano, a victrola and 
games of all sorts. Dances of the old fashioned sort were held at least 
twice a week, and once upon two different occasions we were honored 
in having a number of Y. M. C. A. girls wilh us. 



Passes were issued to Coblenz, Neuweid, Paris, Aix-le-Blaine and 
England, and nearly all the boys secured a pass of some kind. 

During all of this, the date of departure was drawing nearer and 
then in the first part of April, rumors were spread to the effect that 
we were not going home with the 32nd Division and upon April 9 at 
I'etreat, our captain read us a letter from Gen. Pershing verifying the 
rumor. The sentences which destroyed the last hope of an early depart- 
ure for the States were as follows: — "The one hundred and fifty-eighth 
F. A. Brigade will not go home with 32nd Division. At the present time 
no definite date can be set for its departure and it will continue to occupy 
its present territory unless military operations change." 

We were cast into the deepest pits of despair and then one-half an 
hour later the fire call was blown and in less than two minutes the 
battery was assembled in front of the school building and although the 
captain tried to hide the smile on his face yet all of the fellows knew he 
had good news. He stated that orders had been changed and that we 
would go home with the 32nd Division. His announcement was greeted 
with cheers followed immediately by a snake dance. Our actions that 
night made the natives wonder whether the Americans had lost their 
wits. 



Preparations for 
Leaving 



Immediately preparations were made for turning in all of our 
materiel. Everything was washed and for the next week everybody 
was busy. But it was not work now, it seemed more like play. Grad- 
ually our gun park became deserted. Guns and caissons dissappeared, 
follo^\■ed by trucks and caterpillars and finally we were ready to depart. 



49 




m 



Top left: Mayor's ship of welcome at New York. Top right: Going thru Brest. 
Center left: Men going on passes leaving Kausen. Other pictures taken at Camp Mills. 



50 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



April 22, 1919 



This is one of tlie most important dates in our army career. We 
were scheduled to leave Kausen at three o'clock, and long before time 
the boys were waiting for the trucks. Thru some mistake the tnacks 
did not arrive until eleven o'clock that night, and it was a tired but happy 
bunch that boarded them. The entire population of the town was on 
hand at thai late hour to "see us olF;" whether their motives were one 
of thankfulness for our departure or whether they experienced any 
grief would be hard to state, but it is .safe to say that many were sorry 
to see us go. We entrained at Engers, a small village located upon the 
Rhine. 



Trip Across 
France 



Our trip to Brest was similar to the trip to the front in that we 
used box cars for transportation. Starting at six o'clock April 23 we 
followed the famous Moselle River until we arrived at Metz. We 
there began on a westerly direction passing through Nancy, Chaumont, 
Troyes Auxerre, Tours, Le Mans, Rennes and on the morning of Saturday 
April 26, 1919 we arrived at Brest. We then enjoyed the four mile hike 
to camp, most of which was up hill. Brest, although it has been adver- 
tised as one of the beauty spots of France, proved to be just the opposite. 
It rained eleven consecutive days while we were in camp, nevertheless we 
had our details out working night and day. Many of the boys after haul- 
ing coal all night would be compelled to fall out for inspection the next 
day. 



The only good points which Brest possessed were amusement and 
good food. No where in Europe had we ever been fed so good as in 
Brest. Their system of feeding the troops was of the finest. The plan 
of distributing canteens throughout the camp was a big advantage to 
the boys. 



Departure 
from P'rance 



On the morning of the tenth of May, just exactly fourteen days to 
the hour from the time we had entered camp, we stepped from our 
barracks ready for embarkation. One of the speediest movements which 
we hafi ever performed was our trip to the boat. There was no delay. 
We had previously been drilled in the checking off system at the pier, 
and within two hours after we left the barracks we were on board the 
Seattle. The trip from the pier to the S. S. Seattle was made in a tug. 



The Seattle formerly was a four funneled cruiser carrying forty 
two guns, during the war it had been converted into a transport. When 
fully loaded thei-e was approximately twenty-two hundred and fifty 
r>ien on board. 

The ship pulled anchor shortly before one o'clock and three hours 
and forty minutes afterwards, the shores of France faded into the dis- 
tance. The trip across the Atlantic was a monotonous one, being similar 
to the one which we had made nearly one year previous. Except that 
the first trip was filled with curiosity and an ever present danger from 
submarines, and now every one felt safe and not even sea sickness could 
dim the gladness which all possessed. Every night moving pictures 
were shown upon the aft-deck and during the day time the boys spent 
the long hours in reading and day dreaming. 



51 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Disembarkation 



Parade 

in Columbus 



Once More 
Civilians 



Early on the morning of May 22 we entered the harbor of New 
York, but owing to the fog it was found impossible to continue. The 
ship was supposed to dock at nine o'clock but it was nearly one o'clock 
when she pulled into pier number eight at Hoboken, New Jersey. 

Again no time was lost and before we realized it, we were on a 
ferry crossing the east river to the Long Island side. We boarded a 
train there and it was then that we began to realize that we were in 
the United States. The differences in both speed and comfort was 
quickly noticed by the fellows. 

We arrived at Camp Mills in mid afternoon and were immedi- 
ately shovsTi to our barracks. Our life while at Camp Mills was one 
series of passes. With the exception of the cooks and the K. Ps., no 
one worked, and fifty per cent of the battery was permitted to go upon 
a pass each day. But even then such a life soon grew monotonous, 
and the boys were really happy when they entrained for Columbus, 
Ohio. Our route was the same as that of a year previous and we" 
arrived at Columbus on Saturday May 31 at ten-thiity. We were then 
given a few hours of freedom and at two-thiity sharp we assembled at 
Goodale Park prepared for the parade. The parade proved to be a 
success, the Columbus citizens stating that it was one of the finest 
military spectacles ever seen in Columbus. 

During the parade our cars had been switclied to the N. and W. 
tracks, and it was not long before we were speeding toward Camp 
Sherman. We arrived at Camp Sherman about nine o'clock at night 
and after undergoing a physical inspection we were given freedom until 
the following morning. Many of the boys visited at home over Sunday, 
but all were on hand Monday morning when demoblization work was 
started. Many of the fellows discovered that it was harder to get out 
of the army than in. During the next four and five days we wei-e busy 
turning in equipment, listening to lectures, undergoing inspection, and 
filling out blank sheets and then upon the fifth and sixth. Battery D 
was discharged. So passed into oblivion a unit Avhose efficiency and 
high rating of personnel could not be doubted. It contained men from 
twenty-eight different states and men from all trades and stations of 
life. Men who did not want to fight yet when the time came they were 
not found shirking. Captain A. L. Richmond in an address given at a 
banquet for the non-commissioned officers at Coetquidon, stated what 
is perhaps the most highly prized commendation. In concluding his 
address he remaiked: — "I know what I think of the battery, I know 
Major Morris's opinion of the battalion, I realize that Colonel Ashburn 
regards the 324th Regiment as the finest in the army, and I am aware 
of the fact that in Major General Glenn's eyes the 83rd Division is the 
finest in the world, — so by a process of elimination Battery D must be 
the best". 



52 



r II E TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



)hmt HI s^ Dry oT XUc 



a\ iraeM /AriCMarw issiraMa® 



The 158th Field Artillery Brigade was organized at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio, as part 
of the 83rd Division, beginning August 22nd, 1917. 

The original Regular Army personnel assigned to the Brigade was as follows: 

Brigadier General Charles McKinstry, 

Colonels T. Q. Ashburn, 

L. T. Boiseau, 
A. B. Warfield, 

Lieutenant Colonels W. P. Morrison, 

T. F. Osborne, 

Majors Barrett, 

S. R. Hopkins, 
Hugh Brown, 
Earl Biscoe, 
H. L.'Morse. 
Of the above. General McKinstry and Major Barrett never joined and Lieutenant Colonels 
Morrison and Osborne, Majors Brown and Biscoe served but a short time with the Brigade. 

Colonel Ashburn assumed command of the Brigade and also of the 324th Field Artillery; Major 
Hopkins the 323rd Field Artillery; Colonel Warfield the 322nd Field Artillery; Major Thomas Fitz- 
gerald the 308th Ammunition Train, and 2nd Lieut. Don R. McGill the 308th Trench Mortar Battery. 
Lieutenant Colonel Morrison subsequently arrived and was placed in command of the 323rd Field 
Artillery, Major Hopkins going to the 322nd Field Artillery. Col. L. T. Boiseau arrived in a few 
weeks and took command of the 323rd Field Artillery. 

Minor changes were made between this time and June 1. 1918, when Brigadier General A. S. 
Fleming arrived and took command of the Brigade, Colonel Ashburn retaining command of the 
324th Field Artillery. 

The Officers and enlisted men of the Brigade were mostly from Ohio, with some Pennsylvania, 
and a lew officers from West Virginia. Many of the officers came from Fort Benjamin Harrison 
and many later graduated from the School of Fire at li'ort Sill. The Brigade was never brought 
up to full strength until just before departure for France, when a draft of about 600 men from 
Kentucky arrived and were assigned to the regiments. 

During the first few months there was very little materiel to work with anti the tiaining was 
largely done with improvised guns, instruments, etc. 

It was decided, after about three months, that the 322nd and 323rd Field Artillery Regiment 
should be horsedrawn, and that the 324th Field Artillery Regiment should be motorized, and with 
this end in view, transfers were made, bringing the regiments on the base indicated for their final 
organization. However, at the beginning of their training in France the 324th was equipped with 
horses and sent to the front horsedrawn, finally receiving its tractors after the maich to the Coblenz 
Bridgehead had been completed. 

The first materiel to arrive at Camp Sherman was four 3 in. rapid fire American field pieces, 
and these were supplemented from time to time until finally the total armament of the Brigade con- 
sisted of four 3 in. guns, 12 British 75's, two 4.7 in. howitzers and four 2.8 in. mountain guns. In 
the midst of a very severe winter a target range was established at Stony Creek and target practice 
was held by the various regiments over the period extending from January 14th to May 24th, 1918. 



63 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Attached to the Brigade in the capacity of instruction was Capt. Jean Tommy Martin, 108th 
Regiment of Artillery, P'rench. 

On its depai'ture from Camp Sherman, Ohio, the organization of the Brigade was as follows: 

Brigade Commander Brigadier General A. S. Fleming 

322nd Field Artillery Colonel Augustus B. Warfield 

323rd Field Artillery Major S. R. Hopkins 

324th Field Artillery Colonel T. Q. Ashburn 

308th Ammunition Train Major Thomas Fitzgerald 

308th Trench Mortar Battery Captain Don R. McGill 

Lieutenant Colonel Otis R. Cole joined the Brigade in July 1918 at St. Malo-de-Phily, France, 
and assumed command of the 308th Ammunition Train. 

During the iirst week in June, 1918, the Brigade proceeded by rail to Camp Mills, Long Island, 
where it received additional equipment. The various units of the Brigade were assigned to different 
ships, some sailing from New York, others from Philadelphia, and still others from Boston, the 
ships leaving between June 10th and 14th. All the ships carrying the Brigade made the voyage 
through the submarine infested seas without accident and landed the Brigade at Liverpool and 
Portsmouth, England. After a day or two spent in the rest camps in England the Brigade crossed 
the English channel, again without loss, and landed at La Havre, France. From here the Brigade 
proceeded by train to a billeting area in Ille et Villaine, Brittany, comprising the towns of St. Malo- 
de-Phily, Phechatel, Bain-de-Bretagne, Messac, Guipry, Loheac, and Maure. So many Brigades were 
in training in France that there was not room for the Brigade in any of the Artillery Training 
camps and it remained in these billets from the first week in July until the middle of August when 
it proceeded, by maiching, to Camp Coetquidan, one of the oldest French Artillery Training Camps, 
which had been taken over by the Americans and greatly enlarged and improved. At Camp Coet- 
quidan, as in the billets it had occupied previously, the Brigade went through a very intensive 
training course, perfecting and rounding out the work which had been carried on at Camp Sher- 
man. The course in service firing was completed by a Brigade problem on September 11, 1918. 
Lieutenant Colonel Walter Sturgill, Inspector, from the office of Major General Ernest Hinds, Chief 
of Artillery, A. E. F., being present. Major Gene]-al Glenn, Commander of the Division at Camp 
Sherman and later in charge of the LeMans Replacement Camp, visited the Brigade before its depart- 
ure for the front and witnessed the firing on the range September 13, 1918. 

Because of the great demand for horses and guns during the heavy fighting of midsummer, the 
Brigade received its guns only in time for its firing course at Camp Coetquidan, and its horses 
during the week preceding its departure from that camp; in fact its departure for the front was 
unavoidably delayed two or three days by the failure of all of its animals to arrive in time, and two 
or three additional days while waiting for railroad equipment as the demand for the latter for trans- 
porting supplies to the grand ott'ensive which began shortly thereafter was very great. 

The first train for the front left Guer, the entraining point of Coetquidan, 1:01 A. M. 
September 19, 1918, with the Horse Section of the 308th Ammunition Train on board. Trains were 
leaving every six hours thereafter, each being the usual French troop train consisting of 50 cars. 

All trains moved via Rennes, Laval, LeMans, Chartres, Villaneuve, Melun and circled Bar-le 
due, the first units detraining at Souilly and the remainder at Revigny. 

Meanwhile, General Fleming, traveling in automobile via Chaumon and Souilly, arrived at the 
79th Division P. C. on September 20th at 18:00 o'clock. The Brigade was initially assigned as 
divisional artillery to this Division. On the 21st orders from General Alexandre , Corps Artillery 
Commander, 5th Army Corps attached the Brigade to the 32nd Division, (in reserve at Autrecourt), 
but to reinforce the 58th F. A. Brigade of the 91st Division for the attack. The 5th Corps of which 
these Divisions formed a part, was disposed as follows: 

37th Division on the right; 35th Division on the left, and the 

91st Division in the center; 32nd Division in reserve. 



64 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



The 322nd arrived in time for the attack of the 2Dth but the .j23rd and the 234th were still enroute 
to the front. The o22nd moved up by battalions and took cover in the woods just north of this 
location until the night of September 25, 1918, when they moved out into position. 

It will be remembered that the great offensive extending from the Argonne to east of the 
Meuse began on the 26th of September and was still in progress when the armistice was signed 
the 11th of No\ember. The 308th Trench Mortar Battery was enabled to take part in the battle 
with the Trench Mortar Battery of the 58th F. A. Brigade. During the following two or three days 
the 308th Ammunition Train and the caissons of the light regiments rendered valuable service in 
replenishing the nearly exhausted ammunition of the artillery farther to the front. The Divisional 
Chief of Artillery of the 91st Division urged Fleming, (who, in accordance with the French custom 
under these circumstances had not been given any command by the Chief of Corps Artillery,) to 
accept the command of a provisional brigade to be formed of light artillery, consisting of the 122nd, 
124th. and 322nd Regiments. Although the operations of this provisional brigade were confined to 
the 26th of September, they are a part of the history of the 158th F. A. Brigade to the extent that 
Brigade Headquarters, the 322nd F. A. and the 308th Trench Mortar Battery were a part of this 
provisional brigade and as such took part in the great battle waged that day. It is of interest to 
note that the organization of this provisional brigade, the preparations of the plan of accompanying 
fire, (which was unique because the divisions on either flank of the 91st Division were advancing at 
different rates of speed), the installation of communications, practically the entire transport of 
ammunition and supplies, reconnaissances and occupation of their positions by eighteen batteries 
was all accomplished within a pex'iod of less than two days, the finishing touches being given less 
than half an hour before the attack opened. 

As stated above the line of battle which began before daylight on the 26th of September 
stretched from the Argonne to the Meuse, but the 158th F. A. Brigade was immediately concerned 
with that part of the line between Avocourt and Vanquois, which is a crater shaped hill. The Germans 
held the northern side and the French the southern side of the crater, where during former days 
bloody battles had been fought and thousands of men killed in vain efforts by either side to secure 
possession of this Hill. Avocourt will be remembered as the city of many fierce encounters in the 
mighty battles for the possession of Verdun waged in 1916, since when the battle lines in this sector 
had remained unchanged. 

The positions for each battery of the 322nd Field Artillery, having been selected on the previous 
day or two, it was learned that D day would probably be the 26th and H hour 5:30 A. M. On the 
night of the 25th and 26th of September, the 322nd Field Artillery was placed in position in an open 
field, perhaps 800 meters long and 300 meters deep along the road to Vauquois, south of Less AUieux 
Farm. The position in day time was in view of the enemy from the heights of Vauquois, thus 
necessitating the employment of more than ordinary care in occupying the position. The road was 
jammed all that night with troops going forward for the attack and was shelled most of the night 
by 77 and 105 calibres, which happily caused no casualties. 

A defense barrage was fired by the enemy on the morning of the 25th, and from the knowledge 
gained later, we know that following this he must have retired speedily to his position of the 
Kriemhilde Stellung. 

After a two hour preparation by Corps and Army Artillery, the firing commenced on the enemy 
front lines at 5:00 A. M. and continued for thirty minutes when the barrage started rolling and 
the infantry advancing. The success of the First Army attack is well known. 

When the Divisonal Artillery of the 91st Division went forward those elements of the 158th F. 
A. Brigade which had participated in the battle were not permitted to accompany it, as the high 
command desii-ed to concentrate the entire Brigade for service with the 32nd Division which 
occupied the position just vacated by the 5th Corps in order to be prepared for the repulse of a 
strong counter attack by the Germans, which, however, failed to materialize. Within the next 24 
hours, the entire Brigade was in position ready to accompany the 32nd Division, which had advanced 
as far as an east and west line running about thiough Montfaucon. It was e.xpected that the 158th 



56 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



F. A. Brigade would immediately follow the 32nd Division in oi-der to replace the artillery of the 
divisions with-drawn from the line, and with this expectation reconnaissances had been made by 
the Brigade and Regimental Commanders of the new lines to the northward. The Brigade did not 
accompany the 32nd when it went into the line but on September 31st, General Fleming went for- 
ward to arrange the relief of the 55th F. A. Brigade. On the following day he was ordered forward 
with part of the staff to take command of the 55th F. A. Brigade. Colonel Ashburn assumed com- 
mand of the 158th F. A. Brigade upon the departure of General Fleming. At 22:00 o'clock on the 
2nd of October a telegram was received from the First Army transferring the Brigade to the 29th 
Division. On the following morning an order received detaching this Brigade from the 32nd Divis- 
ion and assigning it to the 5th Corps as Corps Artillery, but Corps Headquarters decided that the 
previous order was effective and on the night of the 3rd a forced march was made to the Bois de Nixe- 
ville, near Verdun. 

The night of October 4th Brigade P. C. was located at Charny near the fort de Vacherauville 
and the regiments started moving into position. On the 6th and 7th practically the entire Brigade 
was placed in position behind the Cote de Talou along the banks of the Meuse River, one battalion 
taking -position on the west side of the river. Ammunition was brought up by all available means, 
caissons, trucks and canal boats. 

The attack started early the morning of the 8th, the infantry of the 29th American Division was 
under the command of the 18th French Division until certain objectives were reached, the 158th F. A. 
Brigade now being attached to the latter French Division forming a part of the 17th French Army 
Corps with Headquarters at Regret. 

The attack was held up on our right by the inability of a French Division to make much pro- 
gress through the Bois d'Haumont, consequently slowing down the 18th French Division which the 
Brigade was supporting. 

The officers commanding the various elements of the Brigade were as follows: 
Brigade Commander, Colonel Thomas Q. Ashburn until noon 9th October when the permanent 
Brigade Commander, General Fleming resumed command: 

322nd F. A Colonel Augustus B. Warfield, 

323rd F. A Colonel Louis H. McKinlay, 

324th F. A Lieutenant Colonel Harry L. Morse 

until noon 9th October when he was relieved by Colonel Thomas Q. Ashburn the permanent Regi- 
mental Commander. 

308th Ammunition Train — Lieutenant Colonel Otis R. Cole, 
308th Trench Mortar Battery— Captain Don R. McGill. 
The Battalion Commanders were as follows: 

1st Battalion 322nd F. A Captain Henry A. Marting, 

2nd Battalion 322nd F. A. Lieut. Colonel Samuel R. Hopkins, 

1st Batallion 323rd F. A Major Francis G. Baldwin, 

2nd Batallion 323rd F. A Captain Michael J. Fibich, 

1st Batallion 324th F. A Major (now Lt. Col.) James A. Brice, 

2nd Battalion 324th F. A Major Richard P. Nash, 

3rd Batallion 324th F. A Captain (now Major) Walter M. Sackett. 

On the afternoon of the 9th of October the various battalions began to move forward, the move- 
ment continuing until the next day, when all of the guns including the 155mm howitzers had been 
pushed far to the front. 

The grouping under the command of Colonel McKinlay was on both sides of the road near 
Malbrouck, another under the command of Colonel Warfield was placed in the ravine east of the 
cross roads just north of Samogneux. The 324th Field Artillery was placed along the road from 
Samogneux to Brabant in the ravine of the Cote de Roche. 

The 29th American Division had been released from operations with the 18th French Division 



56 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



on October 10th and had become a separate Division under the 17th French Corps; liaison on the 
left was maintained with the 33rd American Division which had crossed the Meuse near Sivry-sur- 
Meuse and on our right with a French Division. The next concerted attack was made the morning 
of October 15th at 8:30 A. M., the Artillery preparation commencing at 8:00 A. M. It was not 
exceptionally successful, heavy enfilading machine gun nre from the Rultry Bois taking heavy toll 
from the infantry. 2nd Lieutenant John Morrison, 322nd F. A., acting as liaison with the infantry, 
was killed by machine gun fire during this attack. 

The attack was resumed the 16th and our infantry pressed forward into the Bois de La Grande 
Montagne. After hard fighting foi- these two days the first exploitation objective was reached but 
not without great loss to the infantry. Strongly posted machine gun nests in front and on our 
right flank gave considerable trouble. The enfilading fire of all calibres was especially disagreeable. 

On the 1.5th the 26th American Division moved forward to relieve the French Division on our 
right, the first of the infantry reaching their positions the same day. 

On the iSth and 19th the Battalions of Major Baldwin and Lieut. Colonel Hopkins moved for- 
ward, taking position not far from the battalions of Captain P^ibich and Captain Marting, Com- 
prising the McKinlay grouping. The two regiments of light artillery were now all south of the Bois 
de Consenvoye, in and around Malbrouck. 

On the 20th of October we received the information that an attack to the east was being plan- 
ned in conjunction with the 26th Division on the rght. The 21st and 22nd of October were spent by 
the infantry in consolidating their positions and the preparation foi- the attack which was scheduled 
for the 22nd but which was postponed until the 23rd. 

The attack started on the 23rd, the artillery pieparation began al 5:30 A. M. and the barrage 
at 6:15 A. M. Desperate opposition was again encountered and the gains made by our infantry 
were small and costly. On the right the 26th Division exploited the Belleu Bois and the Bois de 
Wavrille. 

It was in this attack that the 308th Trench Mortar Battery immortalized itself; emplacing its 
guns close behind our infantry during the two nights preceding the attack and carrying some 50,000 
rounds of ammunition by hand along the trails through the woods which could be traversed by no 
vehicle, and at daybreak of the 23rd of October when the battle was launched the enemy directed 
a heavy i-eturnfire at our infantry 500 yards in front of the Trench Mortar Battery. In the first 
two minutes of battle this battery had two of its mortars blown up, their crews all being casualties. 
Nevertheless it continued to operate its remaining six mortars until one by one from one cause 
or another they became useless. At the end of 55 minutes this battel y had one gun left fit for 
service, but no man who was not too exhausted to serve it, and had suffered a loss of 13 killed and 
23 wounded out of a total of 55 men engaged. 

This particular part of the front line has been described as the hinge of the door which the 
Germans were trying to keep closed in order to bar the entrance of the Allies; if this hinge could be 
broken the German retreat would degenerate into a rout, since the German lines of communication 
ran close behind this part of the front. This accounts for the desperate resistance which the Ger- 
mans made to the progress of the Allies. During all of October this desperate resistance continued, 
stubborn and sanguinary battles being fought for the possession of the Bois de Consenvoye, Molle- 
ville Fme., Bois de Grande Montagne, Bois d'Etraye, Bois d'Ormont, and others. In all of these 
battles the 158th F. A. Brigade bore its full part in supporting the attacks of the infantry. The 29th 
Division had, about the 10th of October, taken over the sector of the 18th French Division and it was 
this Division to which the 158th F. A. Brigade was attached during all the fighting participated in 
by this Division north of Verdun until the end of October. The French Division on our right had 
been unable to dislodge the Germans from the commanding heights of the Bois d'Ormont and with 
observatories on these heights the Germans were enabled to deliver very effective fire against our 
troops in the lower ground to the west towards the Meuse. The Boche strafed every road and took 
continual toll for all of the ammunition and supplies which had to pass along them in order to reach 
the troops at the front. The Boche also fired innumerable gas shells so that our troops were con- 



57 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



tinually under the necessity of keeping their gas masks ready for the emergencies which constantly 
arose, but notwithstanding the fact that the Boche had the advantage of ground and position he was 
forced back slowly but persistently, the Bois de Consenvoye, MoUeville Fme, Bois de Grande Mon- 
tagne and Bois d'Etraye being successively captured. Night and day the roads behind our lines 
were congested with traffic for the nights were not long enough to get to the front all the necessities 
for the fighting army. 

During these various attacks the artillery fire delivered by the 158th Field Artillery Brigade 
was extremely heavy, especially so on the 23rd of October when in addition to the 72 guns of the 
Brigade all of the Corps guns, over a hundred in number, were placed at the dfsposal of the Brigade 
in a grand attack on the Bois d' Etraye. 

At the end of the attack of October 23rd we learned that the 29th Division was to be relieved 
about the 29th of October, but as yet definite information as to our status was lacking. 

On the 24th, 25th and 26th reconnaissances were made by all battalions for positions more con- 
cealed, in the event that the Brigade should remain in the sector. 

On the night of October 26th we received information that we would be relieved at the same 
time as the division and further reconnaissance was unnecessary. 

Lieutenant Goodall of the 322nd F. A. was wounded at the battery position. Lieutenant Abele 
of the 324th F. A. was wounded while on liaison duty and died later. 

General Fleming was taken sick with influenza and a high fever and evacuated to the hospital 
at Glorieu.K on October 27th. Colonel Ashburn took command of the Brigade and arranged for the 
relief of the Brigade which moved out the 28th and 29th. The 322nd went to Camp Gallieni, and 
the 323rd to Bois de Claude near Moulin Brule; the 324th went farther south to the Bois de Cinq 
Freres. 

On the 31st of October we were again assigned to the 32nd Division and were ordered into the 
3rd Corps sector at once. Orders were issued for the movement to the Bois de Montfaucon, to 
clear Bethlainville by 11:00 P. M. the 31st. On November 1st we reached the Bois de Montfaucon, 
parked along the road for the night and at 1:00 P. M. 2nd November were moving forward. 

The 324th F. A. went north via Montfaucon and Cierges to the Bois de Beuge, where they 
bivouacked, the last elements not getting off the road until late in the afternoon of the 3rd. The light 
regiments marched via Montfaucon and Nantillois to the Bois de Cunel. On November 5th the 
324th F. A. moved forward via Cunel to the Bois de Pultiere. 

General Fleming rejoined the Brigade on November 1st. 

The 5th Di\ ision had been charged with securing possession of the bridgehead at Dun-sur-Meuse, 
and as soon as this mission had been accomplished the 32nd Division advanced, accompanied and 
supported by the 158th F. A. Brigade, crossed the repaired bridge at Dun-sur-Meuse and on the 9th' 
of November advanced via Liny and Haramount to Ecurey, where the first serious German resistance 
was developed on 10th of November. Our infantry surt'ered a temporary check just east of Peuvillers 
due in large measure to the fact that the French on our right had failed to make progress against 
the high ground east of Damvillers. All three regiments of the Brigade were in position in the 
vicinity of Ecurey by dark on 10th of November, advanced reconnaissances for these positions having 
been started at daylight on that day. An attack was made at seven hours on 11th of November, 
the artillery preparation beginning at six hours and thirty minutes. At seven hours and nine min- 
utes information was received that the armistice had been signed and a cessation of the attack was 
0]-dered. At that time the German reply to our artillery fire was very feeble, and shortly thereafter 
ceased, but later on the enemy emboldened by the fact that we had discontinued our attack began to 
shell Ecurey and some of our positions quite heavily. In accordance with the orders of the Division 
Commander retaliatory fire at the rate of ten rounds for every German round was returned, where 
lapon the Germans ceased firing. This Brigade fired its last hostile shot at ten hours and twenty- 
five minutes 11th of November 1918. 



68 



Illlllllllllllllllllllllll 

T H p: trail of battery d 



The total casualties suffered by the Brigade during the Meuse-Argonne offensive from 26th Sept. 
tc 11th of November, inclusive, were as follows: 

Killed Wounded 

322nd F. A 19 139 

32^rd F. A 8 64 

324th F. A 3 14 

308th Ammunition Train 6 

308th Trench Mortar Battery 14 25 

Decorations were awarded the following members of the Brigade: 

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDALS 
Captain Geoi'ges Borelli, French Mission, Brigade Headquarters. 

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSSES 
Captain Don R. McGill, 308th Trench Mortar Battery. 
2nd Lieutenant John Morrison, 322nd F. A. (Posthumous.) 

2nd Lieutenant Harold W. Burns, 308th Trench Mortar Battery. (Posthumous.) 
2nd Lieutenant Roy B. Foureman, 308th Trench Mortar Battery. 
Sergeant Horace L. Holloway, 308th Trench Mortar Battery. 
Sergeant Elever J. Bowles, 308th Trench Mortar Battery. 
Corporal Carl F. Turkopp, 308th Trench Mortar Battery. 
Corporal John M. Crocker, 322nd Field Artillery. 
Corporal Elvin L. Pierson, 322nd Field Artilery. 
Private Urban V. Craft, 322nd Field Artillery. 
Private 1st Class Joe J. Donahue, 323rd Field Artillery. 

The days immediately following the ai'mistice were spent in fitting the Brigade for its march 
to the Rhine as divisional artillery, 32nd Division, which was to be one of the front line divisions 
of the 3rd Corps. Horses were drawn from other Brigades and from the remount service, all 
necessary equipment was forthcoming and everything not of great importance was salvaged. 

The maich commenced on the 17th of November when we crossed what had been the front line 
of November 11th. A march of good length on the 18th by way of Longuyon, placed us in Longwy 
where we rested a day. 

Resuming the march on the 20th, we crossed a small coiner of Belgium and went into Luxem- 
bourg and on the 21st we passed by the City of that name. By the night of the 23rd we had crossed 
Luxembourg where we halted for a week before entering the Rhine Provinces of Germany. 

On December 1st the elements of the Division and Brigade crossed the Sauer River into Ger- 
many and by the 9th we had reached Mayen, a City of some size. On the morning of the 13th we 
crossed the Rhine between Coblenz and Neuwied at the town of Engers. On December 14th and 15th 
the regiments took up the billets they were to occupy during the winter. 

The Brigade had for its part in the defense of the Coblenz Bridgehead the support of the 32nd 
Division with the 1st Division on its right and the 2nd Division on its left. It engaged in tactical 
exercises for the defense of the sector and maneuvers for advance in case of a resumption of 
hostilities. 

General Fleming left to attend a school for General Oliicers at Treves on February 15th and 
then afteivvards for a tour of the front. While away he was relieved by Brigadier General Daniel 
F. Craig on 17th of March, 1919, General Fleming going to the 5th F. A. Brigade, 5th Division. 
However, General Fleming returned to take the Brigade to the United States on April 12th, General 
Craig going to the 5th F. A. Brigade. 

The Trench Mortar Battery left the bridgehead sector for the United States on 9th of January 
and was followed by the 308th ammunition Train on the 19th of January. The following changes in 



59 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



regimental commanders has been effected during tlie occupation: 

322nd F. A Colonel T. W. HoUyday, 

323rd F. A Colonel Harry L. Morse, 

Lieut Colonel S. K. Hopkins, 
Colonel Fred T. Cruse (now Commanding) 
The remainder of the Brigade returned to the United States for demoblization at the same time 

as the 32nd Division. The first elements of the Brigade entrained for Brest, France, on April 21st 

and the various units sailed foi' home between Ma\' 5th and 9th. 




GERMAN LIFE AS SEEN BY CARNEY 



60 




With a few exceptions the following photographs were taken by a German photo- 
grapher in Coblenz, Germany. 



61 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 




Captain Ellery S. James 

Having sei'ved with the Yale Artillery Battalion Capt. 
James came to the 324th as an experienced officer. He 
was assigned to the Pegiment as Adjutant of the 1st 
Battalion. In January of '18 our Captain was sent to 
the School of Fire for a period of three months. Captain 
James was placed in command and remained with us until 
April, when he was transferred to Hq. Company. On the 
March to the Rhine we were without a captain and on 
November the 18th Captain James was assigned to Battery 
D. He commanded us until Feb. 20th, 1919, when he was 
again transferred to the 133rd F. A. which was en route 
for the States. 

Captain Donald W. Fitton 

Although Captain Fitton became our Battery Com- 
mander the last week in March, 1919, we had known him 
for some time. He had served with Battery E in our 
Regiment as a first lieutenant. His promotion as Captain 
in the first week of March, 1919, was not surprising to 
those who knew him, for he had persevered, had studied 
hard, and had won the good will of his men. To us his 
memory will always remain a pleasant one — for not only 
was he a captain, but he was also a man of high ideals, 
and an officer who was deeply interested in the enlisted 
men. 

!5a ft 

1st. Lieutenant Russell L. Palmer 

After graduating from Akron in 1917 he enlisted in the 
Ohio National Guard and served on the Mexican Border. 
Later he was sent to the first O. T. C. at Foit Benjamin 
Harrison. He received his commission as second lieuten- 
ant and was then assigned to the 324th. At the time he 
was assigned to Battery D he was promoted to first 
lieutenant. During the periods we were without captains 
he was Battery Commander. He was specially interested 
in motors, having completed courses of instruction at 
various schools. 

1st. Lieutenant Ralph E. Bevington 

Having served in the Sanitary Detachment of the Ohio 
Field Artillery on the Mexican Border he was sent to Fort 
Benjamin Harrison to the 0. T. C. He completed the 
course and commissioned a second lieutenant, and was 
assigned to our Battery in September 1917. He has re- 
mained with us throughout our service. In March 1919 
he was promoted to first lieutenant. 



2nd. Lieutenant George S. Crego 

From the Case School of Appied Science he was sent 
to the first O. T. C. Here he was commissioned and was 
assigned to Battery E of this Regiment. On January the 
8th, 1918, he was assigned to our Battery. He has served 
as the Battery Supply Officer. 

fc IW 

First Sergeant Fred V. Oldaker 

As a "rookie" he once took his hat off at the command 
"Cover Off", but he soon became a snappy soldier and an 
efficient section chief. As "Top Kick" he set special 
emphasis on saluting. On one occasion he journied to 
Paris to take a special course in that important military 
courtesy. 



62 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Mess Sergeant I'^red U. Gray 

When Freddy landed in the kitchen our "chow" im- 
mediately improved. He knew more ways of preparing 
goldfish and liard-tack than any other mess sergeant in 
the A. E. F. He paiticularly cared for officers. He not 
only served the Colonel with an e.xcellent dish of blood 
pudding, but he also saw to it that our own officers fed 
the same as the enlisted men did. 



Supply Sergeant Lamar S. Stillwell 

"No partiality" was his motto. And so some times we 
would get shoes that would nearly fit us while most times 
we didn't get any. It has been predicted that he would 
start a clothing store in Springfield after his discharge, but 
we think that instead he will accept the presidency of 
Robin and Meyers. 



Sergeant Grovcr C. Johnson 

"Johnny" was undoubtedly the most popular man in 
the outfit. He was quiet and unassuming, but when it 
came to shooting two-bits he was a "bear-cat". He gave 
his ordei's in a friendly but yet firm way getting his work 
done with a minimum of work and energy. 



Sergeant Ralph Pancake 

Judging from Ralph's success with the mademoiselles 
and frauleins we surmise that he was some ladies man in 
South Charleston. At any rate he had a line that would 
make him famous as either a lawyer or a preacher. And 
he was no less jjopular with the men than with the wild 
women, for we all felt his friendship and kindness. 



Sergeant R. LaRue Cober 

"Pete" means the same as pep, — that was Cober, always 
on the jump; organized the "Shrapnel", next the 
"Howitzer"; did everything from hustling advertising and 
interviewing the higli moguls to reading proof and being 
printer's devil. On the front we wanted cigarettes and 
candy. "Pete" got 'em, where or how we didn't know or 
care — he got 'em! 



Sergeant James B. Wright 

Croton, Ohio, which strongly reminds us of the infirmary, 
is where Jim hails from. He first had charge of the 
seventh section but later had the "fighting Fourth". He 
worked at many trades but seems to prefer the rubber 
factories. Reads poetry and likes it too, can you beat it? 

63 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 





Sergeant Clyde Anderson 

The huskiest and one of the biggest men in our bunch 
was "Andy." A happy go lucky fellow, he had before 
the war covered the whole United states in Pullmans — 
regular and side door. In the army he proved a general 
favorite with the men and officers. 



Sergeant Pearl L. Penquite 

der Unter Officer, three stripes and 



Gott 



"Penny", 
mit uns belt. Ho was snappy in drill, good humored and 
easy to please, always willing to help out, a good comrade, 
a good soldier, a good worker. Always had a wad of 
beaucoup francs and we found him a friend indeed. 



Sergeant .John A. Williams 

"Johnny" was always on the spot. When it came to 
figuring firing data he was a "bearcat" and always right. 
Could sit in a poker game, attract no notice, but only 
"Shrimp" need put his pants under his head that night. 
Kept harmony in the bunch of scrappers — the Detail 
Section. 



Sergeant Lester R. Eshelman 

"Esh" always did his share and usually that of a couple 
of others. Many times have his men enjoyed a few min- 
utes rest while he was reporting his section "present". 
He previously belonged to the Third Ohio, which did its 
share on the Mexican border. Good luck, "Esh", going 
to raise any soldiers ? 



^ fe 



Sergeant James L. Griffin 

"Jimmy" ran the orderly room, and you could always 
find him, morning, noon or night, breaking the speed laws 
on the typewriter. But, nevertheless, always had time 
to chat with any who came his way. His big Irish smile 
won friends wherever he went. 



m te 



Sergeant Emerson S. Circle 

Circle joined D Battery in September of '17. He served 
with us until November the 6th of '18 when he fell sick 
with the "flu" and was sent to Hospital No. 80 at Baume 
in France. After recovering he was unable to rejoin us 
and was assigned to the Central Records Office at Bourges, 
France. Circle was very efficient and capable and we were 
sorry to lose him. 



64 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Sergeant Willard C. Moon 

The dog's "Wids." There was no dispute about it in 
the battery. He foretold us accurately the number of 
the pier at Hoboken. He prophesied too that two hundred 
of us would remain in France to push up daisies. Third 
hole rumors, big leaguers, dangers of war fare, import- 
ance of keeping sober — "Wids" favorite topics. 



Corporal George H. Prosser 

He thought himself an Englishman, the fellows called 
him the Englishman, and he really was in England three 
days once, — but he was absolutely the yankiest Yankee 
of" us all. Tall, loose-jointed, sandy-haired, calculating 
gray eyes; George had all the time in the world to do his 
work. (Souvenirs!) 



Corporal IHery J. Bucher 

As an artist, a plodder, and as a good mixer, "Buch" 
was an all round man. Everybody knew his smile and 
his kindness. We sometimes wonder whether "Buch" was 
as bashful as he told us he was when he went to Paris. 
At any rate it's worth inquiring into. 



Corporal James F. McClintock 

"Mac" was one of our charter members. In the Spring 
of 'IS he took sick and consequently spent several months 
in the Hospital. After recovering he obtained permission 
to join us, and so he went over seas and found us at Camp 
Moujouy in October of '18. We were all glad for his 
return to the outfiit for he was very capable. 



Corporal Eugene C. Rea 

"Jean" served as gunner corporal for the Fourth Section. 
Altho small of stature that didn't hinder him from being 
exceptionally good on the sights. Also he was clever with 
a pen, and we enjoyed his humor and original ideas. As 
a ukalelee fiend, a heart-breaker, and as a judge of French 
"pop" he takes first prize. 



pa te 



Corporal John T. Cambell 

"Jack" was the longest, leanest man in the battery, and 
he aUvavs had his breeches pressed. Got the work 
assigned "to him done so well that he got nearly every 
big cleaning up detail wished onto him. His poetic flow 
of language when peeved was a joy to hear. 

65 



IIMIIIIIItlllllinilllMlfllMllltllllllltlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 

THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 




Corporal Hobart M. Chase 

"Biook" could sleep the soundest and snore the loudest 
of any man in the A. 0. He was one of our strong men 
but he never took advantage of his strength by working 
harder than less favored comrades. A good electrician, 
general telephone man and an all around good fellow. 



Corporal Samuel M. Fansler 

"Sam" specialized on gas and gas-masks and the barber 
trade. He was a member of the famous "Agony Quartet" 
which gathered nightly in Cober's dug out. In Kausen 
"Sam" had charge of the club room and canteen; can't 
you still hear him say, "What do you want Kid?" 



^ fe 



Corporal Ewart G. Carney 

A cool nerve, a sharp eye, a keen wit — that was "Carney, 
E. G.," otherwise known as "Kit". His ability as an artist 
is exceptional and much of the success of this book is due 
to him. Also he was a true pal to us all. The "Charlie 
Chaplin" effect on his upper lips was a model for all 
aspiring mis-placed eye brows. 



Corporal Paul M. Culp 

Paul was mighty snappy in appearance, hence in Gei'- 
many he was detailed to Brigade Headquarters where he 
lived on the fat of the land. On the front he was Gunner 
Corporal in the Second Section and a darned good one. 



Corporal Wilmer E. Gibler 

Can't you hear Bill playing his banjo and singing, "At 
the Fountain of youth" and "Johnny and Frankie were 
Lovers" ? What would we have done without Bill's 
laughter, his fun, and his entertaining ways ? He was 
also an expert at polishing mess kits. 



te 



Corporal Roy J. Herrick 

This great intellect pleasures itself not "Even as you 
and I" — but in the fluid expression of vast concrete 
thoughts. We confidently look forward to that time when 
we may take from its dusty shelf our choicest volume, 
and, pointing to it say reverently "hush my child — your 
father knew this man." 



66 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Corporal Roy Ireland 

Roy's chief asset was his good looks. His tall manly 
form and remarkable handsomeness won many a fair 
maiden's heart. In the Battery he rose to position of 
acting motor sergeant, and many a weary hour he spent 
pleading and wooing those sick engines back to life. 



Corporal Harold W. Netzley 

In ducking formations, getting out of details, and eating 
at the head of the mess line — Netz took the "cheese." He 
is going back to his old job of teaching school, so if any 
of you want to take up readin', writin' oi' 'ritmetic drop 
him a card at West Milton. 



^ Wa 



Corporal John F. Stabler 

We called him "Red" because he was a red head. He 
never got mad either. Also he never seemed homesick 
except on certain occasions — when we sang "Sweet 
Adeline." He never told us why that song made him feel 
so pathetic but we surmised the reason. 



Corporal Ralph H. Clark 

It made no difference to "Dutch" whether the war kept 
on or not so long as it didn't inconvenience him too much. 
During his army life there were two things he could never 
get used to; French cooking and serving, particularly 
and the othei' was, work. 



la ?« 



Corporal Robert L. Jamison 

"Bob" was one of our huskies and proved it not only on 
the front as a cannoneer but also in Germany. At Kausen 
he got into an argument with a Dutchman and threw him 
out of his own storeroom, the only efficient means of 
settling said argument. 



fa m 



Corporal Max M. Markley 

"Mac's" specialty was horses and so he was made acting 
Stable Sergeant. From the time he left Vilosnes until he 
got to Kausen his spare moments were few for the picket 
line had to be set up anew every night and "Mac" had to 
get it done, 

67 



iniiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiri 



IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIII 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Corporal Roy H. Wenlz 

Roy looked like a newly escaped prisoner from Sing 
Sing due to that famous haircut at Aix les Bains which 
earned for him the nickname of "Egg." Good worker and 
was put in charge of the Fourth Section drivers at "Camp 
de Mud.'-' 



fe te 



Corporal Martin L. Cloud 

"Private" had one bad fault, he was always in an ai-gu- 
ment which he never won, always admitting "Well that 
defeats me." But not so in the old army game for he 
always won. He was always on the job and never ducked 
a detail. 



te te 



Corporal Charles O. Zerkle 

"Ching" used to keep the Battery posted on all news and 
rumors, he had the "Stars and Stripes" beat on army dope. 
He was a jack of all trades and was always busy. His 
worst failing was too much "Pride." Can be found any 
evening now on a O'acker box in Bullskin. 



Corporal Ellsworth Allison 

From the Keystone State came "Bub" Allison. On the 
front he was a member of the second gun crew and was 
always on the job. In Germany he was promoted to 
Corporal. Bub's cheerfulness and smiles have meant a 
great deal to us. 



Corporal Herman D. Locke 

We know that "Hoiman" did not throw his knee out of 
]jlace on purpose, so he could view the scenery from the 
top of a fourgon. He used to pound the typewriter long 
after everyone else was in bed, making out passes and 
fixing up service records. 



Corporal William T. Miller 

"Wil" liked to sing and he did sing, not even a G. I. Can 
from Fritz could stop him. But we all liked "Wil" as 
well as he liked to inflict his voice on us. His natural 
good nature and sense of humor made him a buddy to the 
whole battery. 

68 



IIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllllll 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



Cook Roy D. Jones 

"Jonesy" was right on the job, when it came to fixing 
grub. No matter how far we'd hiked he was always ready 
to pitch in and fix us up slum and monkey meat. Ask 
"Jonesy" about the chickens and hams sent up to the front 
by — the magazines. 



te 



Cook Ralph L. Trowbridge 

Trowbridge and Major Morse were very thick; the rest 
of us trembled when we saw that mustache start to quiver 
at inspection for we knew what was coming, but Ralph 
only grinned and was the only one who never got called. 
At home with a cleaver and hind quarter. 



Cook William A. Carey 

"Bill" was sure at home in the kitchen and we all 
appreciated his efforts in the culinary line. He was 
always willing to lend a hand and helped us do many 
things from cutting down our clothes to slipping us some 
bacon to fry those eggs we'd swiped. 



Cook Frank M. Fravel 

We don't know what Frank did before his enlistment, 
but surely it wasn't cooking. He was an expert, though, 
at peeling spuds and shining pots; and, when it came to 
dishing out small quantities to those he didn't like, he 
was more than an expert. 



Chief Mechanic Henry G. Fink 

Whenever we ran short of provisions Fink saw to it that 
our larder was refilled. In fact he was always finding 
accessories for every branch of the Battery. As a 
mechanic he could not be beat; and as a friend he was 
one in whom we all had faith and confidence. 



Chief Mechanic George L. Thompson 

Tommy and his corn-cob pipe vvcre inseparable. Pro- 
bably the pipe was charmed for there was no sick engine, 
no broken down gun, no second hand Ingersol that 
"Tommy" couldn't repair. Also his guitar and "down-in- 
the-cellar" voice helped us to pass many a weary hour. 



69 



iiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiii 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 




'4IH^ 




Mechanic William R. Moulton 

"Sweet William" complained once at Camp Slierman 
that his No. 3 gas mask was too small. We remember 
distinctly on the Front, Bill got into a No. 1 mask during 
an attack. Also, Bill was great on relating adventures. 
Having been a sailor at one time he was all full of yams. 



Mechanic Roy Russell 

As a barber Roy was some mechanic. He was an expert 
at clipping heads and horse's tails. He could sling the 
bull as far as Lt. Palmer, and so they became very good 
pals. When it came to "hoe-downs" he had everybody 
beat as a snappy "caller." 



Mechanic Stanley R. Steele 

As a carpenter Stanley was always kept busy. Specially 
was he in demand for constructing dug-outs, (for officers), 
on the Front. We think that Stanley has grown tired of 
butchering wood and will probably return to the railroad 
game after being discharged. 




Mechanic Myron E. Taylor 

"Bruce" was the plutocrat of the battery. Three days 
after pay day most of us were broke but not so Taylor. 
On several occasions he financed the canteen and enabled 
us all to have cigarettes and candy. Drew. the line at 
stove pipe made of tomato and syrup cans. 




Saddler Willard L. Berry 

"Bill" could make the best money belts, pocket books 
and wrist watch straps to be had if you only had a stand 
in with him.. After we were motorized he became known 
as "Gasoline Gus" but we remember him as "Saddler Bill." 



Wagoner Ezra F. Baker 

"Doc" served for a while as a "pill roller" at the remount 
but couldn't stay away from the battery. He served as 
veterinary for the battery and managed to keep busy, for 
long hikes and short rations proved too much for many 
a horse, but "Doc" usually cured them. 



70 



iiiiiiiiiiiiil iiiiiiii mil iiiii iiiiii iiiiii iMiii iiiiiiiiiliiliiilllllllliili I iimiiii 

THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 



Wagoner John E. Baker 

"Bake" comes from Springfield on the "Hump". When 
we went to the Front he was acting Caisson Corporal and 
served in that capacity until we started for the Rhine. 
"Bake" finally transfered to the Motor Section in which 
he drove a caterpillar tiactor. 



?a fS 



Wagoner Edward F. Click 

Until we motorized, "Ed" was a hash slinger, but he had 
such a knowledge of motors and machinery that he was 
transferred to the Motor Section. He served well in both 
capacities but preferred to handle a Quad and Snipers. 



Wagoner John E. Doyle 

Usually an Irishman is only quiet when he sleeps but 
"Dumpy'' used to often break that silence with snores 
of great power. Had bad luck and spent many months 
in the hospital; we were surely glad he came back. In 
Geimany he drove a tractor. 



Wagoner Howard Fallon 

Fallon always had a grin on his mug even when we'd 
hiked thirty kilos on hard tack and blood pudding. Noth- 
ing ever phased him and everyone liked him. Used to 
kid Locke and everyone who hung around the orderly 
room at night. Excellent driver and mechanic. 



Wagoner Edward G. Fisher 

"Eddie" was in respect to neatness both of person and 
equipment the model of the entire Battery. He and 
Morrison bunked together and their pup tent and later 
dugout were the best ever. "Eddie" could sure "pound 
the ivories" and was always in demand. 



ta 



Wagoner Carl L. Frock 

Frock went to the Machine Gun School at Camp 

Coetquidan and seived in the M. G. Squad at the front. 

On our march to the Rhine he had charge of the wheel 

team of the Fifth Section's Chariot du Pare. Later he 
was assigned to the Motor Section. 

71 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinii 

THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Wagoner Daniel A. Green 

In Camp Sherman "'Dan" had the cleanest rifle in the 
battery. In Germany his truck and later the reconnois- 
sance car were just as clean as his rifle always had been. 
He was so lucky in the old army game that the expression 
"as lucky as Dan Green" came to be used. 



Wagoner George H. Jones 

"Jonesy" liked to devil everyone in the battery and 
when he and "Mississippi" got to going it the whole bunch 
watched, for it was a great sight. On the front George 
was one of Pancake's standbys but was transferred in 
Germany to the Motor Section. 



?s Sa 



Wagoner Mark R. Larkin 

Mark was number one man in the first squad of the first 
section on the Front where he worked in a gun squad in 
the day time and on the Kitchen when it was dark. Drove 
a team of "goats" to Germany, where he was transferred 
to become a truck drivei'. 



m la 



Wagoner Frank W. Locke 

"Dizzy" was an all around man. He knew horses and 
his roans were the best pullers in the outfit. When the 
blacksmiths were swamped with work he came to the 
rescue. When we were motorized Frank drove a tractor. 
Also he knew how to manipulate "cognac" and "vin rouge." 



Wagoner Francis M. Melloy 

When we were motorized Melloy was given a tractor to 
care for. Although a new man in the outfit his ability 
earned him his position. Also he was a judge of good 
wines and he became acquainted with all the Gasthauses 
in Rhineland. 



Wagoner August W. Miller 

Gus had the inside dope of the oflicer's secrets. He 
drove the Battery car and so sometimes acted as valet as 
well as chauffeui-. On one occasion he drove to Coblenz 
where he lost his car, but the next week, after his headache 
was over, he found it again. 

72 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



Wagoner Ralph W. Morrison 

Having been salesman of Bully Beef in civilian life he 
should have been a cook in the army. But as mistakes 
are often made he was instead made a wagoner. He drove 
his Quad like a touring car, and we used to breath deeply 
when he took us scooting around corners on two wheels. 



Wagoner Russell E. Murphy 

After completing six months in a motor school Murphy 
came to our outfit in high hopes. But when he found that 
our motors were four-legged ones, and plugs at that, his 
hopes diminished. Finally, when we were motorized, he 
became attached to the motor section in which he proved 
his worth. 



Wagoner Allen S. Perkins 

"Si" is the original strong man. Consequently he was 
made a blacksmith. He could shoe horses faster than he 
could eat — and that was some speed. Also he was a 
"souvenir hound." Officers often wondered why he had 
to have so many boxes to carry his equipment in. 



Wagoner Marvin W. Wears 

Wears had just one complaint — he wished to be busted 
so he could associate with the boys! Until we were 
motorized he was stable orderly and Lt. Palmer's under- 
study. He became quite a Ladies' man in Kausen and 
many of the Madchen "fell" for him. 



^ ta 



Wagoner Gainor J. Weaver 

"Buck" never thought much of the Mademoiselles until 
he went on leave, when he changed his ideas completely. 
His good nature was proverbial and everyone liked him 
from the Captain down. On the front a cannoneer in 
the Fourth Section but later transfen-ed to the Motor 
Section where he drove a tractor. 



Wagoner Curtis Wells 

When we were first equipped in France "Curt' asked for 
a team. He picked a good pair and with faithful thorough 
care he soon had one of the best teams in the battery. 
He rode the wheel swing team for the Sixth Section. 
Later he was given a ti actor to care for. 

78 



THE 



lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 

TRAIL OF BATTERY D 




Bugler 1st Class Carl H. Thompson 

"Skick" was offered the post of regimental bugler but 
preferred to stay with the battery. While in action he 
was assigned to M. P. duty and he performed this un- 
welcome job well. In Germany Carl made a bunch of rings 
for the fellows to send home. Got ten letters a day. 



Bugler Henry Preston Beem 

As member of the "Wind Jammer's Squad" Beem be 
came an expert. Owing to his modesty he refused being 
made regimental bugler and consequently contented him- 
self by pesteiing us with his "fish horn." On the March 
to the Rhine he filled the capacity as Captain's bugler. 
Ask Preston how he enjoyed his trip to Paris ? ? ! ! 



Bugler James E. Slocumb 

"Jim" enjoyed teasing "Dick" Morrow immensely and 
was genei'ally able to have a row going in two minutes. 
A good forager, was well able to take care of himself and 
his buddies. Was able to turn his hand to any kind of 
work, especially adept at engraving rings. 



Private 1st CI. Carl W. Achbach 

"Bill" could spout German so was very valuable in the 
A. O. Always willing to work, interpret, "sit in" when 
we wanted a player — he became mighty popular. He 
served as a cannoneer in the gun squad of the third section. 



m fe 




Private 1st CI. John L. Ahern 

"Johnnie" was Irish, a friend to the whole battery. He 
enjoyed a diy bed on the front while the medics hunted 
wildly for their stretcher. Learned German and could cuss 
and fight with a "squarehead" at the same time. His 
great weakness was a fondness for lemon-extract. 



Private 1st CI. Levi H. Baker 

Can't you still hear Levi spilling his imagination ? He 
certainly had a "line" that was powerful! We hesitate 
to figure out the number of "mademoiselles" and "frau- 
leins" that are now mourning his absence. Levi believed 
in work — for the other fellow. But occasionally he would 
be found in a very business like mood. 



74 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



Private 1st CI. Stanley R. Diltz 

The Detail Section had one man who never ducked de- 
tails — S. R. Never needed a hair cut, shave and always 
kept his clothes clean. He drew clever cartoons and we 
used to look regularly at the bulletin board and in the 
club room at Kausen to find a sketch, "S. D." in the corner. 



Private 1st CI. Henry E. Dickerson 

"Dick" or the "Welshman" can eat more and do less 
work in a short time than any other man in D Battery. 
He never saw a deck of cards before coming to the army 
but before he was discharged he played seven-up and on 
one or two occasions went so fai' as to play penny ante. 



te 



Private 1st CI. Noah E. Davis 

A "hoe-down" was not complete if "Punk" wasn't on 
hand with a fiddle. He could play "Arkansas Traveler" like 
the "Last Rose of Summer." In the Battery "Punk" was 
on the Second Section Gun Squad. After his equipment 
had been destroyed by a Boche H. E. he made his squad 
work harder than ever. 



Private 1st CI. Fred A. Compliment 

"That'll about make me bust out cryin',"we knew Freddy 
was around. He was a crack electrican and was usually 
busy wiring our telephones. Freddy was well known as 
a fighter having once blufled the whole medical detach- 
ment! At another time he routed the whole police force 
of Coetquidan. 



Private 1st CI. Frank E. Brown 

While we were in Germany Brigade Headquarters sent 
a request for an expert accountant and Frank was the 
Lucky one. We have heard of some of the wonderful 
times he had at Rengsdorf. But for first hand information 
ask him to tell you about the good looking "frauleins." 



Private 1st CI. Oscar Boring 

Oscar was an animal trainer. At least he had his little 
gray and roan pair trained so that they never exerted 
themselves. He taught his horses the principle that when 
they wouldn't pull, the cannoneers would push. He also 
became famous with the little kids with whom he would 
trade chocolate and cigai'ettes foi- hen fruit. 

76 




THE 



"'" • iiiiiiiii llili I iiiiiii mil iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 

TRAIL OF BATTERY D 




Private 1st CI. Delmar L. Drake 

"Boar" was No. 1 in the gim squad of the Second 
Section. In civilian life he sold cigarettes but in the army 
could not push K. C. Cigarettes or Nebos on to any of 
the customei's. Drake will always be remembered" for 
his ability to shoot sevens. 



Private 1st CI. Ohmer H. Engle 

.A.lvrays worrying about something and invariably good 
natured, that was Engle, called "Mother." Engle was 
particularly solicitons of our welfare. We did our best 
but he developed an under fondness for grenadine and 
le cidre. Sh! It's whispered he smoked a pack of 
Fatimas in Breitenau where he was battery agent. 



Private 1st CI. Alpha E. Eyman 

Because of his nam.e they put "Sox" in the First Section 
where he remained permanently. He was the cause of 
our giving up our big dance. Sent to the hospital with 
scarlet fever, they called it diphtheria, and found out the 
next day it was only a sore throat — but it was too late. 



Private 1st CI. Mathias Feichtmeier 

While on the front "Matty" was a cannoneer in the Fifth 
Section. On the March to the Rhine he went ahead with 
the billeting party as interpreter since he could speak 
Gei-man fluently both high and low. While in Kausen he 
had charge of the officer's mess. He was efficient on 
every job. 



Private 1st Class Albert H. Forste 

Albert was chosen as the wheel driver for the first piece. 
He had a fine pair and he took special pride in caring for 
them. He was always on the job, and his cheerfulness 
made the work much easier for the rest of us. 



Private 1st CI. Walter Frost 

Frost was so quiet that few suspected the keen sense of 
humor that he possessed. This once lead him to play a 
practical joke, but Walter had slightly misjudged his" 
victim. Everyone in the Battery grew to like this de- 
pendable fellow and we wish him the best of luck. 



76 



T H E 



iiitiiiiiniitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 

TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Private 1st CI. Donald O. Gillogly 

"Don" 01- "Glo glo" was a big red headed Irishman whose 
good humor was never failing. Ask him about his friend, 
that Major in Paris. He covered himself with glory in 
Germany by his capture of a former Hun officer in 
an approved Doug Fairbanks manner, motorcycle, rock pile 
and all. 



ta te 



Private 1st CI. Earl C. Gleason 

Earl was one of the lucky ones when the mail was put 
out. Every girl in Johnstown and vicinity wrote to him. 
Once a piece of shell tore a great hole in his tent but 
Gleason was uninjured. One of the best rifle shots in the 
battery. 



Private 1st CI. Ralph K. Grimm 

Introducing "Red" the well known driver of the Detail 
Section. Always had a fine team, if he needed a new 
horse went out and found one. When we wex'e motorized 
at Kausen "Red' got on a tractor. Three things Red 
enjoyed: a good joke, big feed, sleep. 



Private 1st CI. Clayton B. Hall 

Clayton, (no, Alice, he's real rough at times), hails from 
Licking County. Former occupation — undiscovered. On 
the front he drove a team of oat hounds, generally pulling 
Stillwi^ll around in the Ninth Section fourgon. Has a 
mustache, (almost), that looks like a mangy toothbrush. 



Private 1st CI. Dean Hammond 

Dean was the only man in the bunch who got a wound 
stripe. A piece of shrapnel got him but fortunately 
did not permanently disable him and we are all proud 
of that stripe. Dean never had much to say; it took some 
time to really know him and appreciate his good qualities. 



P'5 ??5 



Private 1st CI. Ward F. Hisey 

The first thing that you noticed about Ward was his 
wonderful mustache; large, auburn, it was more imposing 
than the famous one of the ex-Kaiser. How feeble the 
efl^orts of others seemed in comparison with his. Our only 
fear — that his girl has made him shave it off. 

77 




THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



Private 1st CI. Claude J. Horner 

Horner's nickname was "Hawkshiaw"; earned, so tlie 
story runs, by his finding a place wherein to dodge un- 
welcome formations. In Camp Sherman he was dining 
room orderly and kept it in fine shape. In France and 
Germany he served as driver and later as helper in the 
Motor Section. 



R fa 



Private 1st CI. William C. Inscho 

Inscho had two nicknames "Bill" and "Cinco". In Camp 
Sherman "Bill" was exceedingly quiet but in France a 
great change occurred, he became one of the noisy ones of 
the battery. Some blamed the mademoiselles for the 
change others claim he raised Cain to keep from being 
homesick for his girl. 



Private 1st CI. Arthur W. Jones 

Art was of the serious mind variety. He was always 
interested in things. And could argue, too. Also was 
quite a journalist, and his efforts in the Book have helped 
to make it what it is. At church socials he was always 
leading man. 



Private 1st CI. Raymond J. Jones 

"Jonesy" handed Stillwell a good line and got appointed 
Head Assistant to the Supply Sergeant. One pay day 
when he faced the pay master Ray discovered he had lost 
his records; he became quite upset but soon collected him- 
self and after he bid all good night we found his records. 



Private 1st CI. Lawrence J. Johnson 

"Johnny" was one of the old timers and hailed from 
Licking County along back in 1917. He had a great fond- 
ness for girls, mademoiselles and frauleins and an almost 
equal liking for Beechnut. Perhaps Johnson did not like 
details any better than the most of us but he never shirked 
them. 



Private 1st CI. Charles H. Keller 

From the start everyone quickly grew to know Charley 
and like him. He was the wizard and could beat most 
everyone at Euchre. They say when Charley got back the 
neighbors all began to sing "How're they going to keep 
him down on the farm after he's seen Paree?" 



78 



iiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiii 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Private 1st CI. Charles A. Kline 

To get a lisp out of Charley, all you had to do was ask 
him how he liked his hike to the Rhine. We thought his 
good disposition lost hut it returned in Germany. Liked 
to devil Engle and talk about Mother's cooking after eat- 
ing in a French cafe. 



m fa 



Private 1st CI. Octave Londot 

"Lonnie" had it on most of the battery because he could 
speak French fluently; while in France he acted as battery 
interpreter. He always stood in with mademoiselles and 
got his "vin rouge" at a big discount. Six feet two he 
was, — and a hard man to beat to the mess line. 



Private 1st CI. Kalph R. Lookabaugh 

"Lookie" v>as number one in the Fourth Section gun 
squad and we never could fire fast enough to suit him. 
Chief characteristic, a good disposition. Had a tendency 
to sing and reel oif original poetry by the yard. Got even 
when anyone made him red. Transferred later to Motor 
.Section. 



Private 1st CI. John C. Lupton 

Lupton went to motor school in Lyons before he joined 
the battery as motor instructor. Took lessons in boxing 
we think to lay out that slacker he talked about in his 
sleep — girl in the case? Learned by experience to get 
a meal in a French cafe. 



Private 1st CI. Iven L. Lynn 

"Where's my musette hag? Lynn Oh Lynn!" and a 
quiet voice always answered "Right here, Lieutenant." 
On our long hikes early every morning we would see a 
mammoth roll coming down the road and soon we could 
see that it was cai'ried by a chap one fourth the size of 
the roll. 



Private 1st CI. William H. Miller 

"Bill" hails from the subuibs of Springfield. He was 
a faithful subscriber to the "Spi'ingt'ield Sun," and hence 
the rest of us "bums" were kept in reading matter. His 
curly black hair caught many admiring glances from the 
mademoiselles. It must be awful to be afflicted that way, — 
Eh Bill? 



79 



Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Private 1st CI. Andrew P. Mitchell 

"Dad" was an especially good horseman and willing to 
handle anything walking on four legs. He had been quite 
an adventurer all his life and once in a great while could 
be prevailed upon to tell his experiences. With his droop- 
ing mustache and erect carriage he looked the old time 
soldier. 



to ft 



Private 1st CI. Russell F. Mock 

"Bobo" had a keen sense of humor and could always 
appreciate a joke even though it was on himself. M'as 
one of the charter members of the hairless club at Camp 
Pride. After he'd been Kitchen guard on the front "Bobo" 
and the First Section did not go for a long time. 



fe te 



Private 1st CI. Benjamin F. Musser 

Ben has been fortunate for he has never had to do much 
"Squads east or west". He is a carpenter and he has 
always been in demand in that capacity. .Just as he was 
a good carpenter, so was he a soldier. Everyone liked 
Ben, he was always glad to help the other fellow. 



Private 1st CI. Howard A. Needles 

A very quiet and unassuming character. You couldn't 
tell when he was laughing or frowning. But after know- 
ing him you could appreciate his worth. He was one of 
Sgt. Johnson's right hand men. 



Private 1st CI. Edwin Nethers 

■"Ed" was the biggest man in the battery, never licked 
but once and then by "Shrimp" Williams. The big event 
in his battery life was the shooting of the "bar" in the 
barracks at Camp Sherman. He was an apt pupil of Col. 
McNab and one shot did the work. 



Private 1st CI. Wardie A. Sesslar 

"Ses", "Red", "Toot", he answered to each name. He 
was a "dog robber" for several officers, but popular never- 
theless. Could hear a gas alarm ten miles. Got an extra 
bath on the front in the cause. Went shopping — he and 
a friend, in Paris — Well, better ask "Toot" about it. 



80 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



iiiiiiiiiiiiniii"!!"""" 



Private l&t CI. Harvey L. Steele 

"Chipmunk" was general handy man around the battery. 
Always willing to do anything, got a lot of hard work 
shoved on him which he did cheerfully. Said he liked it 
better than squads east. Had a roll that made us all 
greeneyed and would lend every cent he had to a friend. 



Private 1st CI. Everett Van Winkle 

"Rip" was another of those lucky cusses who always 
won, but he'd never admit that he was more than "just 
breakin' even". He was cannoneer in the Third Section 
and did his work well. Went on a horse detail and "Rip" 
used to tell some moi'e tales. 



Private 1st CI. William B. Wallace 

"Oh' Wallace, where is my messkit?" — and then 
Wallace produced it. He and Capt. EUery S. were pals. 
They were inseparable and probably had many secrets in 
common. We sometimes even think that Wallace was the 
one who originated many of the Captain's "wonderful" 
ideas. 



Private 1st CI. Claude J. Wyeth 

Claude served on the front as a driver. One day when 
he had just stepped away a short distance from his team 
a shell killed one of his horses. In the Argonne one night 
he and his pal made up their bed only to find they had a 
dud for a pillow. 



?a to 



Samuel Albert 

In Utica one of the big attractions was "Sam's" "Movie". 
Sam was always finding new ways for accomplishing his 
work. Especially do we remember how he showed Capt. 
De Wolf how to operate a breach block. On the front 
Sam was detailed by the Regimental Chaplain as his 
orderly. 



1S4 fc 



John A. Arthur 

Above ever\-thing Arthur loved his gold fish. One night 
in Coetquidan the Kitchen Guard went on a tear, shooting 
many of our "fish hound's" pets. We ate stewed, fried, 
raw,' roasted, fricassed goldfish for three weeks. "Art" 
got tired of hunting out goldfish and changed to handing 
out our mail. 

81 



riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii II iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllliiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllliliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilillliiiiiiiii 

THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 




Francisco Bartolucci 

"Barty" won all by his Italian ways. He was always 
on the alert trying to help others. His neatness and 
soldierly appearance made him conspicious. And how he 
could sing. Many a hike's terrors were overcome by 
•'Barty's" little cheerful songs. 



John Battista 

John was no rookie when he landed in Battery D. 



He 



had ser^'ed for four years in the Italian army and had 
been fifteen months in active service against the Turks. 
He was quiet and very bashful, but as a soldier he was 
always on the job. 



Frank Baumchen 

Frank joined our outfit when we were in France. He 
has served faithfully and was one of our best drivers. 
He hails from the State of Michigan, and enlisted at Camp 
Custer prior to going "over-seas". 



ftJ * 



Ralph E. Beatty 

Ralph has the distinction of having served throughout 
his enlistment in the Second Section. Probably because 
he was a very quiet fellow, he was an artist when it came 
to camouflaging, — especially manure piles. As an expert 
on the gun squad he knew his "stuff". 



te ft 



Charles Berrong 

Enlisting in the 3i2nd Infantry, transferred to the 36th 
Engineers, and again to the 6th Provisional Engineers, 
and once more to the 116th Engineers, he finally found a 
berth in our outfit while we wei-e in Bain de Bretagne. 
As a driver it didn't quite compare to being a railroad 
conductor. 



Ernest H. Born 

Do you remember how Born used to "slick" the Mess 
Sergeant or how he always led the line of seconds at mess 
time, (and sometime thirds), or what he told the Mademoi- 
selles in gay Paree so as to evade them. But to be honest 
we can't disclose any black deed, for he has had none. 
And furthermore we have all admired him for his prin- 
ciples and the way he has lived up to them. 



82 



THE TRAIL OF 



A T T E R Y D 



Clarence R. Bramel 

In the "doughboys" Clarence would have made the 
Boches "high-ball" "for he was a great big husky chap. 
He did no less, though, in our outfit for he was one of 
our best cannoneers, and he sure could handle those ninety- 
three pound shells. 



1© ta 



Stephen Brannick 

Stephon to his mother, Pard to his pals at home, but 
just plain "Steve" to us. And he sure was some fighting 
Irishman too. When he woi'ked he worked hard, and 
when he played he went the limit. Also when he argued 
he could tell us things we never dreamt of. 



te la 



Martin F. Brennan 

"Murphy" found soldiering a bit different from being 
a piinter. But never-the-less, he enjoyed himself,- — 
usually at the expense of others, when it came to drinking 
Cognac and eating "Apfel Kucken". Many little 
Frauleins will probably have fond remembrances of 
Murphy for some time to come. 



James Busby 

"Buz" was a driver and had the hard luck to have a 
horse fall on him at the front. It never bothered, though, 
until we arrived east of the Rhine where fatigue details 
were plentiful. But we were glad that his injury didn't 
keep him from traveling Home with us. 



Elmer E. Byerman 

Did you ever hear Elmer talk more than three words 
consecutively. Never, except when the cooks would give 
him too much chow (?), or when some other unhappy 
event occurred. The mademoiselles enjoyed talking to him 
but we never had their success. 



Stephen R. Campbell 

"Steve" enlisted at Camp Custer in Michigan, and after 
a number of transfers, landed at last in our outfit one hot 
day in July, lyiS. His special work was with our French 
"Plugs" and as a driver he did exceptionally well. 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



William E. Carson 

"Bill" was one of the best boxers in our Division. He 
won the Championship of the Regiment and was very 
prominent in Divisional boxing. He found army life a 
little different than railroading, but he was one of those 
fellows who could acclimate himself to any environment. 



» m 



Burnie L. Chambers 

What's this we hear, Bernie about a little mademoiselle 
at Aix le Bain ? You want to be sure and send us in- 
vitations to the wedding when she arrives over here. 
Who could want more romance than that? 



Francis K. Coleman 

"Skinny" wanted to be a driver but when he found out 
that the French plugs couldn't "Parlez" our lingo he 
decided to be a cannoneer. He liked this work immensely, 
specially when he was given some nags to care for on 
the March to the Rhine. 



Leo V. Cross 

"Pat" was always happy. Specially when he was 
stationed in Grossermaischied. He was a great horseman 
and enjoyed (?) caring for his pair. As a driver in the 
First Section he was always on the job. "Pat", — here's 
to you. 



William J. Donald 

They say "Willie" got real mad when he found out he 
couldn't stay in Germany all summer. But then we 
fellows who arn't good looking never find many attractions, 
so possibly we couldn't appreciate "Willies" anger. This 
was his big fault — being good looking. We never got a 
chance with the girls when "Willie" was around. 



Harry B. Dyse 

"Piggy" knew the army game and played it accordingly. 
He had served a "hitch" in the navy so he was wise to 
army metliods. There was nothing "Piggy" had that we 
weren't welcome to. He even let "Pat" Buchanon borrow 
his coat once. When "Piggy" landed in the kitchen he sure 
did put pep to the chow. 



84 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



William B. Edgerton 

"Bill" is a typical wild west rancher and he has often 
remarked that" an artilleryman's outfit wasn't complete 
without chaps, rauled spurs, five or six gats, and a bandan- 
na handkerchief. We are, however, glad that he was minus 
these additions, — especially the gats on the night we 
shaved his beard from his upper lip. 



Because he 
Beam's ranch 
"Texas Pete". 



Clemmon Edwards 

"done broke bosses fo' nine years on old 
in the Lone Star State" we called him 
"And it was a dad burned good job at 
that! !". "Pete's" favorite expression was "dad burned", 
— which cuss word he taught "Sarah" Hall to use. 



Pa fc 



Vauhn E. Esterline 

There was never a successful meeting of the song birds 
without Vauhn. He was our best tenor and sure could 
waible. Also he was one of our best ladies' men. We 
used to enjoy calling on him whenever mail from the States 
arrived. Hershey's Chocolate. UM! 



Louis R. Evans 

"Salt Lake" came from the land of the Mormons. He 
didn't quite live up to our expectations, for we imagined 
him to be strong for the "fair ones." But not him, for 
he had two perfectly good French plugs to care for, — 
and what more could a man want? 



Dominitk Fagnillo 

From the "petite Marie" in Bain de Bretagne to the 
stalwart Suzana in Kausen, "Fag" had everything his 
own way. Although no giant in stature he certainly 
soldiered with the best of us. His sense of humor and 
cheerfulness made friends of us all. 



George H. Fisher 

George was one of our standbys. He was not only a 
charter member but he was with us to the end. George 
was a good driver and took excellent care of his plugs. 
When we went to the front he belonged to the Third 
Section. 




85 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 




William Fitz 

He was a driver and always did lais share of tlie work. 
While in Gemiany he was used as interpreter. "Billy" 
had a rather a temper especially when somebody told 
him he could not eat cornbread. We were glad we had 
Fitz with us. 



Charles E. Fown 

"Red" was not only a great big fellow but also had a 
big heart. Everybody was a friend of Red, and his happy- 
go-lucky and cheerful way was a gloom killer. "Red" be- 
longed to the "fightin' first". 



Adam E. Frank 

No, Adam wasn't the first man that ever was invented! 
In fact he didn't join our Battery until we were on the 
Front. But then he made up for lost time by "digging-in" 
immediately. In Germany he was of much importance to 
the Motor Section and did splendid work. 



Frank Gallon 

He was the biggest four quarts we ever saw. And 
being big — and short — he had a funny walk. Here's a 
tip though; if you're not a friend of Gallons' don't say 
such things. Back in Kausen a "Squarehead" did, and 
Gallon, hailing from Milwaukee, happened to "sprechen 
deutche". The said "Squarehead" watched his step 
thereafter. 



Thomas Gaffney 

Irish; sawed-ofi'; knew how to jig; knew how to take 
a joke — and to pass one on. We used to get pretty tired 
out and crabby on our hike to Germany. It was "hard 
lines". But Tom never lost his humor. When currying 
horses Tom was the only one to see the funny side. 



Thomas A. Gillespie 

As a souvenir hound and picture post card fiend "Tom" 
was on the job. Also very fond of a certain old penny 
clay pipe. After eating the stem olT of this relic he 
accidently broke it. But the pieces were carefully saved 
and now rest in peace. (piece). 



86 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 



Ohmer Goings 

Industrious as the proverbial Scotchman — but did his 
job with a better humor. As a blaclcsmith he was always 
on the job. On our hike to the Rhine, (the hardest thing 
we went through), the horses needed shoeing constantly. 
It never was too cold or too wet for Ohmer, for his anvil 
rang just the same. 



te I© 



Urvin Hartsock 

Although one of the original members of Battery D, 
he was needed in the Supply Company to care for the 
horses. He did so well that they kept him most of the 
time we were over seas. But toward the last we had the 
good fortune to have him back again. 



James C. Holmes 

Few are the fellows who are not familiar with "Jim" 
and his ways. Our evenings would have been quiet had 
it not been for his pep. He was one of the drivers and 
always took good care in giving the boys "Front", 
"tenshun", etc. 



Walter C. Hough 

"Rev. Hough" could talk more and say less than any 
ten men in his profession. And he could also guzzle 
French "Pop". Outside of these accomplishments he was 
an expert cannoneer. His originality and humorous sallies 
kept us in laughter. Also he was very successful in buck- 
ing the mess line. 



James Howard 

From the "Blue Grass" region came "Bud" He was 
at first a bit shy and very unassuming. But after bemg 
made a driver and seeing how important it was to make 
his "bosses" behave he came out into the lime light. 



James O. Hunter 

Again Croton became famous by sending "Jim" to us. 
With his good looking curly hair and his snappy appear- 
ance he became a real soldier. On the Front he served 
as a cannoneer, and in Kausen he turned blacksmith. Later 
the Motor Section got him so his experiences have not 
only been varied but interesting. 

87 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



John H. Hyser 

From Spiingfield came John in the first contingent to 
the Battery. It can not be said that he would ever choke 
from talking too much, — for he only talked on rare occa- 
sions. He was a driver in the Third Section and did his 
work in an excellent way. 



John M. Johnson 

"Swede," from the "Keystone" State, came to us in 
December of '18. We were snow-bound at the time and 
we guess army life didn't look very attractive. But he 
soon caught our spirit and began to play the game in 
earnest. He finally was assigned to the Fourth Section, 
in which he showed his worth. 



John Kolodzicak 

Bai'ing none, "Jack" was the smallest of us all. But 
size don't count now-a-days and he certainly did do his 
share. He was currying his "nags" one day and an officer 
noticed he wasn't using a curry comb. When asked why. 
Jack merely replied "the horse ate it". Some horse — but 
some how Jack managed to find the comb. 



Albert B. Kommel 

Brutus was initiated into army life in April of '18. He 
developed fast and was useful in many ways. One day 
he would be working on the guns, and maybe the next — 
the typewriter. He was also an expert at digging dug-outs 
and burying horses. Brutus had his principles and we 
admired him for the way he lived up to them. 



John W. McCoy 

"Kid" was in the vicinity of six feet five inches. He 
startled the English when we marched through Liverpool 
as they were not used to seeing giants. He was often 
imnosed upon on account of his height and strength. But 
"Kid" took it all good naturedly and was never known to 
grumble. 



Claude Mc Dowell 

Do you remember the night Mac couldn't find his gas 
mask when the alarm was given? He explained after- 
wards that his strenuous weeping was caused by tear 
gas ! How about it Mac ? But don't forget that Mac 
was some driver. His experience at "night ridin" back 
in old "Kentuc" stood him in well on the Front. 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



Frederick A. Marker 

No matter where we were or how beastly the atmos- 
pheric conditions Fred always had time to pull out his 
little broken mirror and primp. Outside of that we can't 
think of any other faults he had but this was such a gross 
one, (and the rest of us didn't have any mirrors), that 
wo can't help but complain a little. 



William Meier 

When Meier first came to us he was very quiet and 
bashful. No one could get a word out of him, — not even 
Capt. James! But finally he condescended an explanation 
by saying that "shavetails" should be seen and not heard. 



m tt 



Edward J. Miller 

"Dizzy" joined us at Verdun. He was made a driver in 
the Fourth Section. Later \\hen the battery was motor- 
ized he was placed in the Motor Section and divided his 
time between washing tractors and Quads and driving. 



George D. Mirkin 

"Ike" became so accomplished as a K. P. that he became 
cook in the officer's mess at Ivausen. By profession he 
was a jeweler and it was witli great difficulty that we kept 
him out of the little pawn shops on our march to Germany. 



Francis E. Montgomery 

"Monty" was one of the best liked men in the outfit. 
He says his home is in Temperanceville, but we are a little 
skeptical at times. As a Fifth Section man he was in- 
valuable and on the Front he was given an important job 
in the Second Section gun squad. 



te fe 



Thomas Moriarty 

"Tom" had a great little mustache that we are sorry he 
didn't keep. We don't know why he didn't keep it for 
this picture. Its historical value was of interest because 
he coaxed it into notoriety on the Hike to Germany. 



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THE TRAIL OF 



A T T E R Y D 



William H. Morrison 

What would we have done without "Bunny"? Abso- 
lutely he was one of the happiest and funniest fellows in 
the outfit and he was a hard woi-ker. The plugs he had 
to work with were famous outlaws. No one could make 
them exert themselves but "Bunny". Probably the songs 
he sang to them brought the results. 



Fred A. Mott 

Cannoneer on the Front, weilding one half of the short- 
rammer and hustling F. A.'s and O.'s and powder charges. 
His chief characteristic is a slow, easy going manner, 
although he was kno'wn to walk fast enough so that you 
could see him move when "soupy" blows. 



Glendale Mount 

While training at Coetquidan Mount's thoughts were 
roaming back to a certain little place in Ohio, and so 
he failed to hear Lt. Palmer give the command; — "Pre- 
par-e to mount!" and the executive command; — "Mount" 
caught him unawares. He whirled with a start and rush- 
ing up to the officer said; — Here I am, what do you 
want?" 



Harry L. Neidemire 

"Needie" came from the wilds of Montana. He was 
great at blowing the bugle but when he got to Battery D 
he dropped the bugle part. Who will forget the wild west 
exhibition when "Needie" salvaged his mount at Maiville 
and rode through Germany on it. 



lEl isa 



Anthony F. Osinski 

"Tony" came to us in October upon the Meuse. When 
we were motorisied his ability was best utilized for he 
became a splendid truck driver. His untiring willingness 
at all times made him well liked by everyone. He boasted 
that he did not hail from Clark or Licking County. 



Vincent P. Petrousky 

"Pete" was known as the "Kid from Chi." Before he 
came to us he had been a doughboy and an engineer. He 
could do battle with the best of them in the roped arena. 
He was driver in the Third Section the entire time in 
France and Germany. 



90 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



Edward G. Pierce 

"Eddie" used to say "Yes' call me a popeyed son of a 
gun" and then laugh. Said he'd not trade his back yard 
in Utica for all Europe. Could argue best with Penquite 
and always won. Tried most of the sections and chose the 
kitchen for he had a poweiful appetite. 



Guistino Rodorigo 

"Rigo" came to us from Pennsylvania and with him 
brought a cheerful grin, which he never lost no matter 
what happened. Tried his best to get left usually, but we 
never left him, though in France he ran many miles, he 
claimed, to catch the train. 



Fred G. Rogers 

"Roge" drove the lead team for the Sixth Section and 
piloted them safely through many tight places. After 
motorization he utilized his time in taking on flesh and 
leading his buddies in the nightly forage on Zwei Bier. A 
good forager, earnest worker, pleasant companion around 
a campfire or in a billet. 



Jesse Sanders 

"Mutt" was one of the drivers in the First Section and 
an old standby in the battery. He could work and did if 
there was anything needed to be done, but couldn't see the 
sense of too much "right front into line, — as you were!" 



fe Si 



William C. Schultz 

"Pop" in Germany started to get a hump on his back 
from ducking formations, and, trying to put the visible 
food supply on the bum, — succeeded pretty well. Occupa- 
tion on the front — One of Prosser's dugout hounds coming 
to the surface three times daily. Also called "Bill" and 
"Light mug". 



John Shipley 

"Ship" was a driver in the Second Section and always 
took good care of "Skinny" and "Matilda". Had a collec- 
tion of souvenirs that cost him many hours and beaucoup 
francs. Never heard first call because he'd stayed up so 
late the night before arguing. 

91 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 




Albert M. Slocum 

Slocum was "Pete" Cober's right hand man. Originally 
a member of the engineers he was transferred to us at 
Bain-de-Bretaofue. No m.atter how hard a job he had he 
always did it well and cheerfully. Whenever asked how 
he was, answered "I'm sassified". 



Charles E. Sprague 

"Red" was a cannoneer on the front, generally in charge 
of pow der charges, a wizard with a gas mask. Saw funny 
lights over Verdun. Helped push carriages when the 
going was rough under the gentle persuasion of a certain 
brigadier. Sprague was quite a boxer, light weight class. 



William H. Stabler 

"Bill" was transferred from Headquarters Company to 
look after his brother John. It didn't pay to work him 
too hard for Uncle Sam was always short of mess funds 
if "Bill" hauled many H. Es. Said he'd go hungry for a 
slab of eating tobacco any day, but we doubt it. 



ftt fc 



William Stackhouse 

"Stackie" alias "Bill" was one of the engineers who 
joined us at Bain after being over most of France pre- 
viously. At Coetquidan he was given a pair of black 
stallions, the only original pair to go clear through to the 
Rhine. When you wanted "Stackie" you always looked 
around the kitchen. 



Frank C. Steel 

Steele hailed from New York City so could appreciate 
the metropolitan air of Kausen. He was very neat in 
appeai-ance and obeyed orders without grumbling. He 
and "Sam" went to Paris together, ask Steel about it if 
you have plenty of time. 



Lewis L. Sunkle 

"Sunk" had a great hobby in the army — "slinging the 
bull". His philosophy was a wise man misses all fatigue 
details, and he was a wise man indeed. Had a house on 
canal street that eclipsed all the other edifiices on the 
residential thoroughfare. 



92 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



Howard E. Titus 

Titus liad a nick name but the censor wouldn't let us use 
it. As a driver iie had an important job. He drove the 
kitchen hoi'ses and had to prod the cooks to boot to keep 
them with the Battery. That was one reason why he 
always was so fat. A good genial jolly pal. 



ft ta 



James C. Van Allen 

His favorite job on the Front was "pulling the string," 
and his "Aw Hell let's put 'em over fast" was his constant 
expression. He was transferred to the Motor Section when 
it was organized. And they had to watch him to keep his 
foot off of the accelerator when driving. 



Horace Van de Water 

He was a shark on the harmonica and therefor was 
dubbed "Windy". It wasn't necessary to ever ask him 
to play. Also was quite a musician with two or three 
spoons. He lived on "Toity-toid" street "New Yojk." 



Walter Van de Water 

Also from "Toity-toid" Street, "New Yojk". Was 
formerly conductor on a taxi cab, but as we traveled "a la 
foot" his excellent experiences were wasted. He staged 
several "Cootie" battles and finally, after going to Rengs- 
dorf for aid, came out victorious. 



George J. Vallier 

George began his training in Fort Slocum in June of '18, 
and set sail for Fi-ance July 21st. Finally joined the 308th 
Trench Mortar. The .308th having too many men trans- 
ferred him to our Battery while we were at Brough. Was 
placed in the 7th Section and became "Sarah's side kick". 



.loseph L. Walker 

Joe was well built, jolly and an excellent gun-man from 
the State of Florida. Saw lively fighting with the 3C8th 
when it was "shot-up". Is very fond of "shin-digs" and 
funny jokes, and as a worker was very dependable. 



93 



T H E 



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TRAIL 



OF BATTERY D 




Charles E. Watkins 

"Doc" kept us up-to-date with the famous phrases. 
"Get-a-lang, dick," "Front," and "Leap upon 'em," were 
a few of his pet sayings. Outside of "breakin" on the 
Third Section piece, his one diversion was to go "over the 
top". "Doc's" fun was half of our Battery life. 



John R. Wears 

Wear's life was uneventful until we dug in along canal 
street. John E. and his pal were very comfortable \\'ith 
plenty of hay, a stove and a pup tent. One night the 
bundle of powder used in lieu of kindling got too hot. 
Immediately a sheet of flame. "Put out that fire!" 
Wears calmly replied; — "I can't, I'm barefooted". 



William H. Whitney 

"Old Riley" was from "Frisco". He trained in Camp 
Fremont. He went "over seas" wth the 11th Engineers, 
and came to us at Bain-de-Bretagne. His Irish smile and 
his jokes were familar to all. He was a driver and did 
excellent work. 



William H. Wilkinson 

From the speed with which he hit the mess line he was 
called "Swift". He joined us in May of '18, and finally 
landed in the "Woolly" Second Section. He was very 
dependable and when "Swift" was given woi'k to do he 
did it right. 



Virgil Willey 
No relation to the old timer who wrote Aeneid. On 
the Front he drove the water cart, frequently making 
trips under the heaviest kind of shell fire. Fortunately 
escaped any very serious injury. His dug-out was severely 
shelled, over thirty shells dropping nearby but he calmly 
wrote a letter home. Indifference — that's him all over. 



Clarence Williamson 

"Bill" had a varied army life until he hit us, having 
been in half the camps in the States and France, and had 
engineer, doughboy, and artillery training. In the Battery 
he became a driver having the bad luck to draw a horse 
with a temper and a disposition like the Kaiser. 



94 



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THE TRAIL OF 



A T T E R Y 



Ben Wilson 

Hailed from Kentucky where they grow good tobacco 
and make "hard-licker". Was made a driver at Camp 
Coetqvudan and served in this capacity until we motorized. 
Then made a cannoneer with nothing to do but wash guns, 
make gun posts. K. P., just to keep a man contented. 



William F. Wilson 

Edgerton never told a yarn that "W. F." didn't tell a 
bigger one. He was full of those wild stories, and his 
exaggerations made us forget our troubles. A great big 
giant with kindly face and a genial smile. Is an expert 
with "gats". 



Adam Wolochawitz 

We don't belie\e Adam can pronounce his own name, — 
none of us could. Came to us in July at Bain-de-Bretagne. 
Made a driver but later in Germany a cannoneer. Plays 
that famous little game but says "I'm check". 



Lon Wright 

Whenever looking for Lon you could find him where 
Glendale Mount was. They were inseparable. The same 
height and the same dispositions. Lon was a first class 
driver and was always reliable. Quiet and very bashful 
yet he nmde good friends with the Burgomaster's daughter 
at Kausen. 



Sergeant Raymond Thomas 

"Doc" was our pill roller. He had charge of the C. C's. 
and Scotch High Balls. He wasn't afraid to give 'em to 
us either. He was well liked by all of us because of the 
interest he took in his work. 



Charles P. R\ mond 

"Charlie" was one of "Doc's" helpers. He came to us 
while we were stationed at Kausen, and we learned to 
know his jovial manner and his friendly ways. 



IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1III1II 



HE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 




1st Lt. Robert M. McDougle 

Lt. McDoug-le received his commission in January of '18 
as a first lieutenant. He joined the 324th and was made 
adjutant of the 2nd Battalion when we went to the Front. 
When we were short of cfflcers he came to Battery D and 
made many fiiends among the enlisted men. In February 
of '19 he went to England to take up studies in a British 
University. 

?ia ft 

Sergeant Robin R. Morrow 

"Dick" was not very big but he was powerful when 
wrathy, — tho soon pacified. Absolutely dependable him- 
self, required explicit obedience from his section. He alone 
was responsible for the poor showing Prosser made in 
collecting souvenirs, once a week "Dick" ruthlessly threw 
out of his chan'ot du pare, German machine guns, sausage 
ballons, lugers, tin derbies and what not. 

Sergeant Clifton W. Hall 

"Sarah" is one of the best track men in the country. 
He broke the woi-ld's record in racing backwards in looks 
as well as in speed. In February he went to the French 
University at Beaume. but the details and work there 
soon headed him for Brest where he rejoined us on our 
Homev/ard journey. 

Corporal William A. Gutridge 

Bill was one of Lieutenant Palmer's standbys, — in fact 
some thought they were buddies. Bill became a corporal 
at Bain-de-Bretagne and served with Andy's section for 
several months. Later he was made Caisson Corporal of 
the Eighth Section. 

Private 1st CI. Patrick J. Buchanan 

Besides spreading the Bull, Pat was invaluable to the 
Battery. He could quote more philosophy and dispute 
more arguments than all of us put together. He was 
usually out of luck when it came to being issued good 
clothes. But he nearly succeeded in arguing Dyse out of 
an overcoat, once! 

Private 1st CI. Irving Perlman 

"Poilman" was our fiddler, he could take a whezy old 
violin and make more music out of it than most players 
could do wnth a Strad. He was one of the Arkonites and 
like the rest of them distinguished himself by his good 
work. Liked week-end parties on Lake Erie. 



Lewis C. Murley 

Whenever looking for Murley it was a safe bet that he 
was in the kitchen. He became attached to the kitchen 
foi'ce for a while, but he ate so much that for the safety 
of the outfit he was placed in a gun section. But that 
didn't keep him from making the kitchen his headquarters. 

Grover C. Scarberry 

Grover served as cannoneer in the Sixth Section but 
often relieved the drivers in bad weather. He was one of 
that party of trail markers who got lost and entered 
Verdun when it was being heavily shelled. A good fellow, 
willing and thorough, a fine comrade in arms. 

Cook Wilbur Heil 

Heil originally was a baker, so in serving as a cook he X 
was experienced in his trade. He formerly belonged to 
Battery C. but was transferred to us while on the Front. 




96 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 




Slaiaslaes aimd ©ffiieSa] Leiteri 



97 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



The Tral ©f IBaimsiry 



Managing Editor R. LaRue Cober 

Editor-in-Cliief Roy J. Herrick 

Associate Editor Arthur W. Jones 

Business Manager Fred V. Oldaker 

Editor of Art Ewart G. Carney 

Associate in Ai-t Ulery J. Bucher 

Associate in Art Levi H. Baker 

Editor of History Harold W. Netzley 

Associate in History Samuel M. Fansler 

Editor of Personnel John A. Williams 

Editor of Statistics James L. Griffin 

Editor of Humor Lamar S. Stillwell 



98 



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r f I E TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



324* F!®M Arftall'say (Meawj) 



WJ 



station 


Arrived 


Left 


Camp Sherman, Ohio 


Aug. 30, 1917 


June 3, 1918 


Camp Mills, N. Y. 


June 4, 1918 


June 11, 1918 


"S. S. Leicestershire" 


June 11, 1918 


June 24, 1918 


Borden, England 


June 25, 1918 


June 26, 1918 


Rest Camp No. 1, La Havre, France 


June 27, 1918 


June 29, 1918 


Bain de Bretagne, France 


June 30, 1918 


Aug. 13, 1918 


Camp Coetquidan, France 


Aug. 13, 1918 


Sept. 25, 1918 


Revigny, France 


Sept. 27, 1918 


Sept. 27, 1918 


Waly Woods, France 


Sept. 28, 1918 


Sept. 28, 1918 


Parois, France 


Sept. 29, 1918 


Sept. 29, 1918 


Hesse Forest, France 


Sept. 29, 1918 


Oct. 3, 1918 


Nixeville, France 


Oct. 4, 1918 


Oct. 5, 1918 


Marre, France 


Oct. 6, 1918 


Oct. 10, 1918 


Samogneux, Finance 


Oct. 11, 1918 


Oct. 28, 1918 


Camp Maujouy, France 


Oct. 29, 1918 


Oct. 31, 1918 


Bethelainville, France 


Nov. 1, 1918 


Nov. 1, 1918 


Bois de Montfaucon, France 


Nov. 1, 1918 


Nov. 2, 1918 


Cierges, Fiance 


Nov. 2, 1918 


Nov. 3, 1918 


Bois de Beuge, France 


Nov. 3, 1918 


Nov. 6, 1918 


Bois de Rappes, France 


Nov. 6, 1918 


Nov. 9, 1918 


Vilosnes, France 


Nov. 10, 1918 


Nov. 16, 1918 


JaMetz, France 


Nov. 16, 1918 


Nov. 17, 1918 


Marville, France 


Nov. 17, 1918 


Nov. 18, 1918 


Villers la Chevre, France 


Nov. 18, 1918 


Nov. 20, 1918 


Petagne, Luxembourg 


Nov. 20, 1918 


Nov. 21, 1918 


Kirchberg, Lux. 


Nov. 21, 1918 


Nov. 22, 1918 


Hostert, Lu.x. 


Nov. 22, 1918 


Nov. 23, 1918 


Brouch, Lux. 


Nov. 23, 1918 


Dec. 1, 1918 


Irrel, Germany 


Dec. 1, 1918 


Dec. 2, 1918 


Neiderstedem, Germany 


Dec. 2, 1918 


Dec. 3, 1918 


Badem, Germany 


Dec. 3, 1918 


Dec. 5, 1918 


Manderscheid, Germany 


Dec. 5, 1918 


Dec. 6, 1918 


Dreis, Germany 


Dec. 6, 1918 


Dec. 7, 1918 


Kelberg, Germany 


Dec. 7, 1918 


Dec. 9, 1918 


Kurrenburg, Germany 


Dec. 9, 1918 


Dec. 10, 1918 


Ochtendung, Germany 


Dec. 10, 1918 


Dec. 13, 1918 


Kirlich, Germany 


Dec. 13, 1918 


Dec. 14, 1918 


Sayne, Germany 


Dec. 14, 1918 


Dec. 15, 1918 


Breitenau, Germany 


Dec. 15, 1918 


Dec. 28, 1918 


Kausen, Germany 


Dec. 28, 1918 


Apr. 22, 1919 


Engers, Germany 


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Apr. 23, 1919 


Camp Pontanezen, Brest, France 


Apr. 26, 1919 


May 10, 1919 


"U. S. S. Seattle" 


May 10, 1919 


May 22, 1919 


Camp Mills, N. Y. 


May 22, 1919 


May 31, 1919 


Camp Sherman, Ohio 


May 31, 1919 


June 5, 1919 


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108 



SIN 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 




WINDSOR CASTLE. 







y^^^y^ /f/S, 



A copy of this letter was presented to each American Soldier who passed thru England. 



109 



Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 

THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



P. C. DIVISION 
SECRET 

G. S. G— 3. 8 Nov., 1918 

MEBIORANDIJM: 

1. The following compilation of statements of prisoners captured by units of the First Army, 
American E. P. during the period September 12 to November 4 is extracted from an Army Artillery 
Summary dated November 5, 1918. It furnishes interesting evidence as to the effectiveness of the 
fire of the American Artillery: 

"(G — 2, 3rd Army Corps), October 10th — Prisoner stated that as a result of a direct hit a week 
previous, of large caliber, 40 horses and 4 grooms of the 7th Field Artillery Regiment, quartered in 
Aincreville, were killed outright. Another prisoner states that the American artillery is easily dis- 
tinguishaVjle from the British in that the latter concentrate on definite objectives, while the former 
always adopts a form of harassing fire which efl^ectively sweeps backward and forward over large 
ai-eas indiscriminately." 

G — 2, 3rd Army Corps), October 11th — Two escaped prisoners repoit our shell fire on Dun-sur- 
Meuse compelled the Boche to abandon that town as a detraining station and transferred the same to 
Stenay. 

"G — 2, 5th Army Corps), October 11th — Prisoners of the 110th Regt., 28th Div. taken north of 
Cunel, who were in position in the Bois de la Pultiere and on both sides of the Cunel, Clery le Grande 
Road, state that there were no shelters for their machine guns and they were forced to change their 
emplacements continuously on account of the intensity of our artillery fire. In this region the enemy 
sufl'ered quite heavy losses and most of the 12 machine guns of the 3rd Machine Gun Company were 
put out of action. 

"Prisoners commented on the accuracy of our artillery fire on the rear areas, particularly on the 
narrow guage railroad running from Saulmaury to Villers-Devant-Dun, which seriously imparred the 
bringing up of ammunition for the German Artillery. In the reigon of Douloon the 110th Regiment 
suffered severe casualties from the eifects of gas shells. 

"(No. 45, G — 2, 1st Army), October 11th — The Colonel declares that his regiment (the 11th Regi- 
ment) was to make a counter attack about the time when the American Barrage opened. The result 
was complete disaster; the Regiment was "completely shattered". The artillery unit of Captain 
Cramer, which was to prepare the counter off'ensive, was either captured or broken to pieces; a large 
number of the officers were wounded or killed. 

"(G — 2, 3rd Army Corps), October 14th; from captured documents — an exact report on the 
amount of heavy artillery and field artillery put out of use says that in one month 137c of all pieces 
in line have been completely destroyed by enemy artillery. 

"(No. 54, — 2, 1st Army), October 22nd — The 458th Division has suffered such heavy losses that 
on October 15th it had only five companies, with efl^ectives in each company very low. Prisoners 
stated that losses were large, due to artillery fire. 

"(G — 2, 1st Army Corps) September 26th; Prisoners from the 2nd Lw. F. A. Regt. — states that 
he and two other men tried to retreat on account of our artillery fire but it was impossible. 

"Prisoner, Landstrum Battalion X 15, September 26th. Prisoners were cut off by our barrage 
and said that it was so heavy and well placed that they could not return. 

"(No. 35, G — 2, 1st Army), October 3rd — The company had 75% losses from gas shelling on 
September 27th and 28th. (4th Company, 112th Kuk)" 

By Command of Major General Haan, 

R. M. BECK, JR., 

Colonel, General Staff 

Chief of Slafl' 



110 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



BAIN-DE-BRETAGx\E LAUDS AMERICANS QUARTERED THERE 
(From a French Correspondent) 

Bain-de-Bretagne, Friday, — Lieut. Colonel Harry Morse has just sent the municipality of Bain- 
de-Bretagne the sum of 4,000 francs to be given, in the name of the officers, non-commissioned officers 
and privates of the 324th Regiment of Heavy Artillery, U. S. A., to the war orphans of this commune. 

This magnaminous donation, due to the initiative of a superior officer of this fine regiment is a 
striking testimony of the noble and generous sentiments of our American Allies. 

The delicate thought which accompanies these gracious collective subscriptions is marked with 
the rememberance of the brotherly welcome given at Bain-de-Bretagne to this particular regiment, 
whose courtesy and distinction are combined most naturally, in all the degrees of military hierarchy, 
with the spirit of chivalry and the qualities of discipline and good bearing. 

The inhabitants of Bain-de-Bretagne will always give the warmest welcome to American regi- 
ments which may be quartered in the town, but the 324th will carry away with it their unanimous 
regrets, sincere good wishes and most cordial sentiments, which will follow it more particularly on 
the road to victory. 

(Taken froim the New York Herald, Paris Edition) 

te w fa 

Colonel Thomas Q. Ashburn, October 25th, 1917 

Commanding Officer, Artillery Brigade. 

In the review which took place last Thursday, I observed that the following companies of your 
brigade presented a very creditable appearance and marched steadily and in good line, viz: 
Headquarters Company, 322nd Field Art. 
Battery "D" 324th Field Artillery. 

Sgd., E. F. GLENN, 
W.JEG. Major General Commanding 

Wb tta » 

158th F. A. BRIGADE 
A. E. F. 

General Order No. 17 15th March, 1918. 

1. The Commanding General of the Third Army Corps, Major General Hines has directed that 
the Brigade Commander convey to the Commanding Officers, Officers and men of the 158th F. A. 
Brigade his congratulations upon the splendid appearance presented by the Brigade in todays review 
and inspection before the Commander-in-Chief, General John J. Pershing. He has also directed me 
to convey his appreciation of the splendid spirit which has enabled tlie Brigade to accomplish such 
gratifing results under the present conditions. 

2. In conveying these sentiments of the Comnianding General Third Army Corps to the Officers 
and Men of this Brigade, the Brigade Command ei desires to express his profound gratitude for the 
willing- spirit of co-operation and overcoming difficulties which has characterized this Brigade from 
its inception, and it is a matter of great pride to him to feel that he had the honor of organizing a 
Brigade capable of winning such commendation from the Corp's Commander. 

3. The Brigade Commander directs that this order be published to every officer and man 
of this Brigade in order that they may feel that their efforts toward making this the best Brigade 
possible has won commendation from such military authority as the Corps Commander. 

By order of Colonel Ashburn, 

S. R. HOPKINS, 

Lt. Col. F. A. 

Adjutant. 



in 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



HEADQUARTERS 3rd ARMY CORPS 
From:— P. C. S2nd Division 11 November, 1918. 

To All Brigade Commanders. 
To: — Commanding General 32nd Division. 

1. You are informed that hostilities will cease along the whole front at 11:00 A. M. 11 Novem- 
ber 1918, Paris Time. 

2. No allied troops will pass the line occupied by them at that hour and date until further 
orders. 

3. Division Commander will immediately report on sketch exact location of their front line. 
This sketch will be returned to these headquarters by courier who bears this order. 

4. All communications with the enemy, both before and after termination of hostilities, is 
absolutely forbidden. In case of violation of this order, the severest disciplinary action will be 
taken. Any officer offending will be sent to these headquarters under guard. 

5. Further emphasis will be laid on the fact that the arrangement is an armistice only, and 
not a peace. 

6. There must be not the slighest relaxation of vigilance. Troops must be prepared at any 
moment for further operations. 

7. Special steps will be taken by all commanders to insure the strictest discipline and that all 
troops are in readiness, fully prepared for any eventuality. 

8. Division and Brigade Commanders and Commanders of Corps will personally inspect all 
organizations with the foregoing in view. 

By command of Major General Hines 

CAMPBELL KING 

Chief of Staff 



HEADQUARTERS THIRTY-SECOND DIVISION 
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 

201—1 (Commendations) Rengsdorf, Germany, 16 March 1919 

From: — Commanding General, 32nd Division, American E. F. 
To: — Commanding Officer, 158th F. A. Brigade, American E. F. 
Subject: — Commendation. 

1. A general order issued today from division headquarters informing the division of the high 
commendation which the Commander-in-Chief passed upon the division as a result of his review and 
inspection of yesterday. 

I wish, however, to express to you in this more personal way my very high appreciation of the fine 
spirit which so obviously animated the troops under your command. The 322nd Field Artillery, 
the 323rd Field Artillery and the 324th Field Artillery, in their soldierly bearing, in the appearance 
of their mounts, of their tractors and their equipment generally, made a showing of which they may 
well be proud. The light regiments in passing in review stirred to enthusiasm all who watched 
them. The 324th Regiment reached all the expectations of the Commander-in-Chief and of the 
Division Commander in that so soon after being motorized and under such unfavorable conditions 
• they had their tractors and guns on the reviewing ground ready for inspection and brought to 
such a high standard of cleanliness and obvious efficiency. 

(Signed) WM. LASSITER 
Major General 
WL-M. U. S. Army 



112 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



158th F. A. BRIGADE 
A. E. F. 

Ceneial Order No. 35 12th Dec. 1918 

1. In the period of less than three months that ha? elapsed since the Brigade has left its train- 
in^j camp for the front it has traversed France; fought in four Divisions and three Corps; borne 
its full share of the great Offensive, first west of the Meuse, then north of Verdun, then again west 
of the Meuse, which it once more crossed in pursuit of the vanquished enemy. 

And on every occasion the guns of the Brigade have responded fully to all the needs of the 
Infantry. This has been rendered possible only by the untiring labor and the devotion of its per- 
sonnel, both commissioned and enlisted. 

2. Since the signing of the armistice the Brigade has marched through part of Belgium, crossed 
Luxemboui'g and all of Germany west of the Rhine. During the march to the Rhine there has been 
a marked and constant improvement in its march discipline and march efficiency of the units of 
the Brigade. The conditions under which the march was undei taken and has been conducted have 
afforded no adequate opportunity for the re-equipment of the troops; yet by their continued effoits 
the organizations of the Brigade ha\ e done much to rehabilitate their war worn equipment. 

3. The Brigade Comm.ander, who is surely its severest critic, feels great pride in these achieve- 
ments of the Brigade and congratulates all officei's and men, who have contributed to them, on the 
results obtained. 

4. The high standard whicli has been insisted upon by the Brigade Commander is within 
reach, but the price of its attainment and maintenance is unceasing and unremitting eff'ort by every 
member of the Brigade. By command of Brigadier General Fleming 

S. R. HOPKINS 
Lt. Col. F. A. 
Adjutant 
te to fe 

HEADQUARTERS THIRTY-SECOND DIVISION 
AMERIC.4.N EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 

From: — Commanding General, 32nd Division. Rengsdorf, Germ.any, 24. March 1919 

To: — Commander-in-Chief, American E. F. (thru channels) 

Subject: — Date of return to the United States of the 158 Field Artillery Biigade. 

1. The 158th Field Artillery Brigade was attached to the 32nd Division from September 27th 
to October 3, and from November 1 to the present date. A large part of the active service of the 
Brigade has been with this Division. The Brigade now feels identified with the Division and has 
been expecting to return with it to the United States. Their own Division, the 83rd, is reported 
to have already returned. 

2. Information has now been received from the Third Army Headquarters that the 57th Field 
Artilleiy Brigade, the organic artillery of the 32na Division, will accompany it to the United States 
and that the 158th field Artillery will remain behmd. Of course, it is desired to have the 57th 
Field Artillery Brigade shaie the fate of the rest of the Division, but I would ask that considera- 
tion be given the case of the 158th Field Artillery Brigade. The men of the Brigade have been 
building their hopes on going hom.e with the 32nd Division. Now that they are to be left behind, 
there will be a good deal of depression as they feel that they are orphans, their own Division 
having left. 

3. If it is not possible to send the 158th Field Artillery Brigade home immediately, I recom- 
mend that they be told when they will go so that they w-ill have something definite to look forward 
to. Sgd. WM. LASSITER, 

Major General, U. S. A. 



118 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



HEADQUARTERS THIRTY-SECOND DIVISION 

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 

—CONTINUED— 

1st Ind. 

Hdqrs.:— 3rd Army Corps, A. P. O. No. 754, A. E. F., March 26, 1919. 

To: — Commanding General, Third Army, American E. F. 

1. Forward for consideration. 

Signed J. L. HINES 
Major General, U. S. A. 
Commanding. 
2nd Ind. 

Hq.;— Third Army, American E. F., 28th, March, 1919— To Adjutant General. 

G. H. Q.: — American E. F. 

1. For consideration. 

Signed MALIN CRAIG 
Chief of Staff 
For the Army Commander 
.3rd Ind. 
G. H. Q. — A. E. P., April 3, 1919: To the Commanding General, 32nd Division. 

1. General order 56, c. s., assigned 57th Field Artillery Brigade to the .32nd Division and it is 
the desire of the Commander-in-Chief that this Brigade accompany that Division to the United 
States. Therefore, it is not the intention to assign or attach the 158th Field Artillery Brigade to 
the o2nd Division. 

2. No definite date can be given at this time for the return of the 158th Field Artillery 
Brigade to the United States and it is not intended to move thi.s Brigade from its present locality 
unless military considerations make it necessary or until its preparation for return to the United 
States. 

By command of General Pershing 
Signed J. M. WOOLFOLK 



Adjutant General 



4th Ind. 



Hq. — 32nd Division, American E. F., 6 April, 1919 

— To Commanding General, 158 Field ArtilleryBrigade. 

1. Returned, inviting attention to preceding indorsement. 

By command of Major General Lassiter 

R. M. BECK, JR 

Colonel General Staff 

Chief of Staff 

5th Ind. 

Headquarters 324th F. A. (Heavy) A. P. O. 710, 9th April. 
To all organizations. 

1. This letter will be read at first formation after receipt and posted on bulletin boards. 

By order of Col. Ashburn 
E. F. NORTON 
Capt. 324th PA. USA. 
Adjutant 



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ONLY ONR OF GERMANY'S CRIMES 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 
Office of the Commander-in-Chief 

Kajor General Ernest Mines France. March 27th, 1919 

Chief of Artillery 
A. E. F. 

My dear General Hines: 

As the time approaches for the return home of the greater poition of the artillery of the Ameri- 
can Expeditionary Forces, it gives me great pleasure to extend to you, and to all officers and men 
under your command, my heartiest thanks and congratulations for their share in the successful con- 
clusion of the war period. 

Rushed to F]'ance with but the most preliminary training and here assigned to new material 
and unaccustomed methods, they overcame all difficulties by their energy, determination and devo- 
tion, to duty, affording the infantry that powerful suppoit without which success would have been 
impossible. From the earliest days of our active participation in the battle, the officers and men 
of all branches of the artillery won the admiration of our allies. They co-operated eifectively in 
stopping the great attacks of the enemy and in rmMng it possible for us to take the offensive. In 
the Meuse Argonne operation, they over-whelmed him at a critical point in his lines, making pos- 
sible the advance of our troops, which jeopardized his communications and made the surrender 
01 annihilation of a large part of his troops inevitable. 

No less deserving of praise is the work of the officers and men of the training staffs at the 
several schools and training centres. Deprived of the opportunity to serve at the front, Ihey carried 
on with zeal, energy and efficiency, the instructions of the artillery, a task no less essential than 
the actual combat work in the firing lines. 

To all units and individuals under your command I desire to express my thanks and the thanks 
of their comrades of the American Expeditionary Forces. Our interest in their welfare will 
continue, accompanying them to their homes and back into civil life. 

Sincerely yours, 
JOHN J. PERSHING 



1st Ind. 



Hdqrs.:— 158th F. A. Brigade, American E. F., 27th April, 1919. 

Copy furnished 322nd, 323rd, and 324th F. A., to be read at the first formation after receipt. 

2st Ind. 

Headquarters 324th F. A. (Heavy). A. P. O. No. 734, 28th April, 1919. 

To C. C's. Organizations. 

1. For Compliance with the 1st Indorsement. 

By order of Col. Ashbui'n 

E. E. NORTON 

Capt. 324th FA. USA. 

Adjutant 



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158th F. A. BRIGADE 
A. E. F. 



Mcmoiandum: 



nth April, iyi9 



J. The following letter received by the Brigade Commander from Brigadier General A. S. 
Fleming is published for the information of the Brigade. 



4th April, 19iy 



HEADQUARTERS, 5th F. A. BRLGADE 
American E. F. A. P. O. 745 

From: — Brigadier (ieneial A. S. Fleming, USA. 

To: — Commanding- General, 158th F. A. Brigade. 

Subject: — Commendation of Officers and Men of the 158th F. A. Brigade. 

1. Because of my relief from duty with the 158th F. A. Brigade during my absence there- 
from I was unable to publish an order relinquishing command of that Brigade. 

2. Will you therefore please convey to all the members of the Brigade my great appreciation 
of their work and their accomplishments while I had the honor to command the Brigade. 

3. In the training area the Brigade strove to complete its mastety of the techical details that 
would fit it to take its place at the front. According to the statements of the authorities of the 
training camp at Camp Coetquidan the Brigade surpassed all previous standards attained by the eight 
Brigades which had preceded it there, and established new records which have not since been equalled. 

The Brigade received its baptism of fire on the 26th of September, 1918, in the Meiise-Argonne 
offensive and acquitted itself with entire credit. From the 8th to the 19th of October, 1918, the 
Brigade participated in all the engagements of the 17th French Army Corps north of Verdun and 
there earned the reputation of being one of the best fighting artillery Brigades in the A. E. F. 

Upon the cessation of activities of the 17th French Army Corps, the Brigade was again attached 
to the :d2nd Division and with the latter crossed the Meuse at Dun-sur-Meuse in pursuit of the re- 
treating enemy. On the morning of the 11th of November, 1918, when news of the armistice reached 
us, all the regiments of the Brigade were in action, closer to the German Frontier than any other 
artillery of the Allied armies north of Verdun. 

On the march to the Rhine the Brigade earned the appreciation or all and the commendations 
of the Corps and Division Commanders for its excellent marching, march discipline, and care of its 
animals. In the Coblenz Bridgehead, as part of the American Army of Occupation, the Brigade 
attained standards which later resulted in the high commendation of the Commander-in-Chief. 

These accomplishments resulted from a zeal and a cievotion to duty which are beyond all 
piaise, and would have been impossible without the loyal co-operation and untiring efToits of both 
officers and enlisted men. 

(Sgd.) A. S. FLEMING 

Brigadier General, U. S. A. 

By Command of Brigadier General Ciaig: 

A. L. Richmond 

Major F. A. 
Acting Adjutant 



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158th F. A. BRIGADE 
A. E. F. 

17th April, 1919. 
General Order No. 20 

I. The following letter of the Division Commander is, by his express desire, published to the 
Regimental Commanders and to the Regiments of the Brigade. 

"HEADQUARTERS THIRTY-SECOND DIVISION 
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 

Brigadier General Adrian S. Fleming, Commanding Rengsdorf, Germany, 17th April, 1919 

158th Field Artillery Brigade 
American Expeditionary Forces. 

My dear General Fleming: 

Before the 158th F. A. Brigade starts on its way home I desire to express to you and to the 
Brigade in what high estimation I hold the services which the Brigade has rendered in France and 
in Germany. 

The Brigade came under my command as a part of the 32nd Division when I took o^er the com- 
mand of that Division for the march to the Rhine. On this long and arduous march, so trying on men 
and animals, the artillery always showed up to advantage. Its good discipline and high spirit carried 
it successfully through all the obstacles and difficulties to be overcome. Since we have been in the 
Coblenz Brigehead I have always felt that I could rely upon the artillery to meet any new develop- 
ment which might arise. Their situation has not always been easy, in that they have been trans- 
ferred from Division to Division during the active operations and so have had to get established 
in each new organization; but I can testify that with the 32nd Division their capabilities have been 
recognized and relied upon. The regiments of the Brigade, the 322nd Field Artillery, the 323rd Field 
Artillery and the 324th Field Artillery have the right to take with them to the United States the 
consciousness of work well done. 

I would ask you to convey to the regimental commanders and to the regiments of the Brigade 
my congratulations on their fine accomplishments. 

Sincerely yours, 
(Signed) WM. LASSITER, 
Major General, U. S. Army 
Commanding 32nd Division. 

II. This letter is a tribute to the loyalty, devotion to duty, and patriotism of every officer and 
enlisted man who contributed to the results which earned it. 

Previously, during the Meuse-Arogonne Offensive, the Brigade supported, in battle, the 91st, 18th 
(French), 29th and 32nd Divisions; and with all of these Divisions this work of all of its units was 
of the same standard as that to which the Division Commander bears testimony. 

"The right to take back with them to the United States the consciousness of work well done" is 
an achievement of the highest order and an honor second to none. They have earned this right 
and are entitled to the pride and distinction of its possession. 

By Command of Brigader General Fleming 
A. L. Richmond, 

Major, F. A. 
Acting Adjutant. 



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To ihe Men of i3ailery Q 

CAPT. DONALD W. FITTON 

I am highly grateful for this opportunity of recording ni)' admiration of the splendid record of 
you men of Battery D, and of expressing my appreciation and gratification for my association with 
you, if only for so short a time. When in the latter pait of March, 1919, I was ordered to take com- 
mand of the Battery I realized I had been assigned to a splendid organization. You had been blessed 
by having in Major Richmond, your first Battery Commander, an oiftcer and gentleman of exceptional 
ability and character and you)' entire military record has been a credit to him and to yourselves. 
You performed every duty and endured every hardship asked of you m tlie true American spirit, — 
and were at all times in your personal conduct and life the highest example of American manhood. 
I shall only look back upon my few weeks of companionship with you with the greatest of happiness 
and pride. Because of the uncertainties and separations of demobilization I did not have the oppor- 
tunity of personally bidding you farewell, so am taking this opportunity of extending to each one 
of you my congratulations on the past and best wishes for the future. This splendid Battery 
L'ook, conceived, written and printed by you men should be a medium, by which the events and associa- 
tions of this organization will always remain fresh in our memoi-i°s and may the bond of service 
and friendship now formeii be continued and strengthened through life. 

^ Fa ft 

Two TrmntBB 

CAPT. ELLERY S. JAMES 

It is with an apology that I attempt to take my place in this book as an author, but I am grateful 
for the opportunity, if for nothing else, to say good bye until we meet ag'ain. I have heard it said 
that in the army a man's first command is his first love. At any rate so it was with me. Although 
1 did not have the honor of ushering Battery "D" into the light of an astonished world, nor even of 
commanding you at the Front, to me you were alwajs "my battery". I think what little success I 
had was due to this — to me always the battery was an entity; it had a heart, mind and soul. I was 
responsible for its well-being. It was mine. And from this came my greatest reward. The tre- 
mendous satisfaction I possessed in my position came from the bottom up and never from the top 
down. The men were always the same; loyal, willing, thorough, and hard working. Of course, thero 
were some to whom this ideal did not appeal. When this was temporary it made little diffei-ence 
When it was permanent, they wei'e not Battery "D" Men. 

Before the war I was sometimes rather disloyal to my country. The Men in the Battery taught 
me loyalty and respect. They were certainly representative of America and they represented all 
that was good. I have always been an admirer of the French and have no patience wdth those 
Americans who i-un down what France has done. Those of you who do not respect the French 
should withhold your judgment rmtil you know them better. Their greatest virtue is sincerity. The 
Germans are the most insincere people of the earth. Next to sincerity one may find in the French 
a certain sensitiveness of nature possessed I firmly believe to no such e.xtent by any other people 
of the earth. The German coarseness is proverbial. In America we possess sincerity and sensitive- 
ness of nature, and are unconscious of them. This unconsciousness has its dangers. When accused 
of these vii-tues we are often ashamed. We must take care lest the rough diamond we all admire 
turns to a lump of coal. When we see these virtues in others we may be even contemptous. Why 
has all the civilized world fought for France ? Because she represents the greatest cause of history 
— spiritual good. God grant that we never forget it! Before I bid you all Godspeed, let me thank 
jou for all you did. I must do so collectively, although it is in my heart to do so individually. The 
men who won the war weie the cooks who always cooked, the drivers who always fed their horses, 
— the list is endless. It comprises those men who "knew their stuff" and did it. And then let me 
invite you all to call on me for anything I can givt you when we get back home. It will be small 
but always it will be yours. 



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HEADQUARTERS 158th F. A. BRIGADE 
CAMP MERRITT, N. J. 

May 14th, 1919. 



General Order No. 23 



1. The policy of the War Department for denioblizing troops returning to the United State.s 
from the A. E. F. results in the beginning of the disenligration of commands upon their arrival at 
the port of debarkation. Even now the 158th Field Artillery Brigade, as such, has virtually ceased 
to exist. The personnel of the various units is being segregated into groups which will be sent to 
various points for muster out of the Service. Neither the Brigade nor any of its units will ever 
again be assembled as an organization. 

2. It is with profound regret that the Brigade Commander realizes that this magnificient 
Brigade must cease to exist. The record of its units, the 322nd Field Artillery, the 323rd Field Artil- 
lery, 324th Field Artillery, the 308th Trench Mortar Battery, and the 308th Ammunition Train, is 
without blemish during their service in France. Their promise during the period of training was 
more than fulfilled during the battles of the entire Meuse-Argonne Offensive. After the Armistice 
the standard attained in marching to the Rhine, during the intensive training as a part of the Army 
of Occupation in the Coblenz Bridgehead, and during all the preparations attendant upon their return 
to the United States was second to none. This record of achievement and the traditions acquired 
thereby are imperishable, and will constantly be the source of pride and inspiration to every member 
of the Brigade. 

3. The Brigade Commander desires that this oixler bo p]-omulgated throughout the Brigade. 
He, also desires to express to every officer and enlisted man of the Brigade his appreciation of the 
loyality and faithful devotion to duty of the members of the Brigade. He hopes that they will carry 
with them into civilian life, and, wherever their future may lead them, the pride of accomplishment 
which is theirs, by virtue of achievement. 

By Command of Brigadier General Fleming. 

A. L. RICHMOND, 

Major Field Artillery 

Adjutant 




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^attory Co(naiB3iil eumI 5oiig§ 



121 



MIIIIIIIIIIIIHMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllllllllllllllllinilllllllllllllllllllllllll 

THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



BATTEIRY B OV TME ff'UTUIRE 

We want you to read this article from beginning to end. It has to deal with the Battery D of 
the futui-e,^he reunions of our old buddies; the re-singing of the songs we sang through those 
wet and dreary night hikes; the telling again of the jokes on each other that age will only make the 
merrier; the answer to the roll call; — and last, but not least, to assemble in memory of our own who 
sleep in peace on the battle fields of France. 

We had heaps of pep in the old days, and we're going- to have a heap more in the days to come. 
Each one of us is interested in forming a permanent organization. An organization which will work 
out the details of the reunions, — the correspondence, the locations, the hotel arrangements, the ban- 
quets, the printing, and the hundred other items that go to make a succes.sful reunion. 

Organizations of this sort don't materialize from imagination only. It takes work and the co- 
operation of each and every one. Some one has to start it. Some one has to organize, and some one 
has to push. In other words it depends on YOU! Are you interested? Will you do your share? 
And we know the one unanimous answer will be yes. Then you can have a part to play. You can 
Ferve on the committees. Or if that part doesn't appeal to you. you can boost and support every 
arrangement the various committees will make. 

A number of us got together and decided that it would be a splendid idea to create temporary 
officers whose duties will be to begin planning for the first reunion. The Chairman we have chosen 
Ik no other than "Goldie" or, in a more dignified presentation, Mr. Fredrick V. Oldaker, of the city 
of Hebron. The next officer pro tem is Bobby Griffin of 832 Linden Ave., Springfield. 

Those two will get together and begin forming committees and start the ball to rolling. The 
proceeds of this book creates the fund for the developing of plans, — for the buying of oats for 
"Bunny" Morrison's old nags, for the blood-pudding and hard tack, which will be served in courses. 
And, when we all make the mad rush to be first to hit the old chow line, Devil take the hindmost. 

lilxpect to hear from the committees that are now being formed soon. And when you do 
answer promptly and go "over the top" in doing your part. 

HNEXCUSAJBILE INIF'OiRMATIlOKI 

The Senate Committee on Public Infoitnation rendered truly extraordinary services. Not only 
to the folks at home were their published columns concerning the Boys in France sources of 
brightening information and up-bouying encouragement, and all that; they were a revelation to the 
the Boys in France themselves, the Boys at the Front. 1 present a few quotations from one of their 
sparkling columns in Colliers — or did I clip it from the Saturday Evening Post? To-wit: 

"He" — the "man who is fighting for your security and happiness" — "He has good wholesome 
food, well cooked, in great abundance and variety," — bully beef, dog biscuit, spuds unboiled with the 
jackets on, and salmon, — what more could his dainty palate crave, pray? Unless 'twere German 
blood pudding, to be sure, or Australian rabbit! 

"He lives under conditions of healthfulness maintained by sanitary experts. His health is con- 
stantly looked after by capable physicians — who bend every eff'ort toward keeping him well, instead 
of waiting to cure him after he becomes ill". 

A Pretty paragraph — Oh, so solicitious, so motherly, so tender! Remember Canal Street, under 
the hill there above Samogneux ? And C. C. Pills ! Charles E. Hinkle took 'em back in Camp Sher- 
man; and Frank J. Henn in the little German village of Kausen; besides whom there were others. 

"Everjf conceivable condition contributes to his safety, comfort, and happiness". What, enough, 
you say? But, my dear comrade, it is all very illuminative and mteresting, I assure you. Ah, now 
J understand — you don't really get the humor in this sort of illumination. Very Well! 

But let's not be too hard on the Committee on Public Information. 1 do maintain the body 
rendered a noble and worthy service — at least to the folks at home. It took our letters, you see, 
anywhere from six or eight weeks till eternity to get home, while in the meantime the Committee's 
publicity work I'an Old Man Gloom ragged back there. 

Of course I have since learned that my wife, all this to the contrary, worried her sweet self into 
a decline about her hubby. But other wives, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts and cousins 
were naturally not as anxious about their dear ones as my wife was about me. Of course not! 



122 



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THE TRAIL 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 

OF BATTERY D 



SONGS 



Battery D Song 
(Tune: On Wisconsin) 

On to Paris, then to Berlin, 

Come on Battr'y D; 

Make the Kaiser, be the wiser 

Of this Battery. 

While we're singing, voices ringing. 

We'll go marching on; 

We've the hunch we'll land the punch 

For liberty. 

Oh The Army 

(Tune: In My Harem) 

Oh, the Army, the Army, 

The life is real and charming, 

They clothe you and they feed you, 

They call you when they need you. 

Hash for breakfast. 

Beans for dinner, 

"Slum" for supper time. 

Thirty dollars every month 

Deducting twenty-nine. 

Oh, the Army, the Army 

The democratic Army, 

If you like your beer 

You are S. O. L. in here, 

For we're all in the Army now. 

March To The Rhine 

(Tune: Alabama Jubilee.) 

Out in the mud on a Germany pike. 

The three-twenty-fourth was a takin' a hike. 

Its one-thirty now and no kitchen in sight — 

We got an early start, 

Bring on that ration cart; 

Old Colonel T. Q. is makin' a rep, 

The Captain shouted double time with lots of 

pep. 
Help, help, the gang's all in 
When the f.2nd marched to the Rhine. 

Ohio 

Ohio, Ohio, 

It's a name known to fame in days of yore. 
May she ever be glorious. 
Till the sun shall climb the heavens no more. 
Battery D Marching Song 
(Tune: Tramp, tramp, tramp, etc.) 
We belong to Batter'y D 
And we're feeling gay and free, 
'Cepting when we think of 
Damned old Germany. 
Then our blood begins to boil, 
And we're ready for the toil, 
And we'll buckle down and 
Fight for Liberty. 

Chorus 
Boom! Boom I Boom! We're the Battery D 

boys. 
That's the reason for this noise. 
Though we work like Hell each day 
We are ready for the fray. 
And we'll fight for right and old Democracy. 



324th Regimental Song 
(Tune: Boola Boola.) 

Oh, here we are, yes, here we are, 

We are tiaining for a short and bloody war. 

With shot and shell 

We'll give 'em Hell, 

And they'll never want to see us any more. 

We give ourselves to Uucle Sam, 

We don't give a tinker's damn; 

With our si.K-inch guns 

We'll get those Huns, 

And then return to Uncle Sam. 

Chorus 
For we're training, yes, we're training. 
To beat the Kaiser, to beat the Kaiser; 
And we'll beat him. 
When we meet him. 
With our Heavy Artillery. 

Three-Two- Four 

(Tune: Casey Jones.) 

There was a doughboy in the Artillery, 
Who laid bv the wayside at the break of day. 
And as we went by we heard him shout — 
"If you don't quit double timing you can count 

me out." 

Chorus 
Three-two-four, on our way to Germany, 
Three-two-four, marching o'er the Rhine, 
Three-two-four, on our way to Germany 
It didn't take us long to break the Hindenburg 

Line. 

Parlez Vous 

The Y. M. C. A- went over the top, 

Parlez vous. 

The Y. M. C. A. went over the top, 

Parlez vous. 

The Y. M. C. A. went over the top 

And didn't know just where to stop, — 

Oh. hinky dinky parlez vous. 

2 
I got a pass to Aix-le-Bain, 
Parlez vous. 

I got a pass to Aix-le-Bain, 
Pai'lez vous, 

Well 1 got a pass to Aix-le-Bain, 
And they shipped me down on a cattle train. 
Oh, hinky dinky parlez vous. 
(The next twenty verses censored.) 

83rd Division Song 

When the 83rd Division falls in line. 
We'll find ourselves in file across the Rhine, 
And we will fight, fight, fight for liberty. 
And rush our troops across the lines of 

Germany. 
With England, France and Italy by our side. 
The 8ord Division is our pride. 
And we will lay the Kaiser 'neath the sod, yes 

by God, 
U. S. A. 



123 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



The Field Guns snarl and bai'k and c.xnse 
Like a hvmdi-ed angry wolves, or worse; 
Their slender shells speed away in the dark, 
And the O. P. tells if they reach theii- mark. 

The artilleryman sweats, and his eardrums throb, 
But he's going to stick till he's finished his job. 

The Heavies explode with a deafening roar 
Like ti tidal wave on a rock-ribbed shore; 
Their cumbrous shells soar aloft into space. 
And an aeroplane tells if they reach the place. 

The Artilleryman staggers, his eardrums throb; 
But he's going to stick till he's finished his job. 

The wily Trench Mortar lets go with a crash 
Like a couple of thousand tiles a-smash; 
The deadly bomb whizzes over to Fritz, 
And the periscope tells just where it hits. 

The Aitilleryman chokes, and his eardrums throb. 
But he's going to stick till he's finished his job. 

— Cincinnati Enquirer. 



fe Ja PJ! 



Samuel M. Fansler 

Lest we forget, 'mid daily toil 
The ones who sleep in foreign soil; 
Lets stop a while and bow our heads 
In silent memory of our dead. 

They fought the fight, they fought it well; 
Denieci are they their tales to tell. 
They sleep far from their native state 
A victim of the hand of fate. 

Yet each one lives, they did not die, 
For as the yeai's go rushing by 
They still will be with us in thought 
The ones who slumber where they fought. 



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125 



Illllllllllllllltllllllllllllllllill 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



HARD LUCK 

Sgt. Johnston: — Well there's not much pleasure in smoking, George. 

Cpl. Prosser: — How's that, Sarge; — you've got a good meerschaum pipe, haven't you? 

Sgt. Johnston: — Yes it's a good pipe I've got. I paid forty marks for it in Coblenz. But you 
see if I am smoking my own tobacco I'm thinking of the terrible expense, and if I'm smoking 
someone else's tobacco my pipes rammed so full it won't draw. 

ANOTHER FISH STORY 
Lieut, (to mess Sgt.): — Are you sure that salmon is fresh, Sgt.? 

Sgt. Grey: — Absolutely, Lieutenant, I've just had it cut up to keep it from jumping at the flies. 

ft IW 
GO TO THE HEAD OP THE CLASS GEORGE 
Penny was buying some apple butter and wanting a box to have it put in called in Geo. Fisher 
to ask for it. Geo. said in choicest German: — "Hain't got haben sie un bok." 

E pa 
Did you ever hear Beavy say? — "Put that garbage in the insinuator." 

Did you ever see the German kids stand reverently quiet while the captain read the evening 
devotions out of his note book? 

fc Pa 

Did you hear Willie Donald say when called upon to form a detail of men ? "At'ensun, Right 
Address." 

Were you one of the onlookers at the backward race in which Corp. Hall came out winner? 

TWISTED 
Dickerson discussing the times to come with Walker. Dick: — "And when you come to see me 
I'll introduce you to that Brown girl." 

Walker: — "Looky heah boy, I don't want to go messing up with no white trash." 
Curt Wells: — (Greatly pleased at the prospect for a row) — "Why "walk," that's his sister-in- 
law." 

TEAR GAS 
Capt.: — Sgt., what man in the battery do you think has shown the most care for his equipment? 
0\de: — (Thoughtfully), "Well Morrison and Fisher were always very careful and — McDowell cried 
for his gas mask back on the front." 

fe to 

NEVER SAY CAN'T 
Sam Albert looking up French phrases in a book and searching particularly for "Oui, oui 
Manure" said: — "I can find "oui" in this Frog dictionary but "Manure" ain't in here." 

to f^a 
SOLID IVORY 
Larkin was on a foraging expedition in Kausen and found two eggs in barn 30. Hastening 
to his billet he procured his mess kit and prepared to have fried eggs on toast. He changed his 
mind after he cracked one as they turned out to be made of china. 



126 



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THE TRAIL OF 



A T T E R Y D 




IIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIII MllillllllMllllllltllllllilllllllMIIMIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 

THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



WhenHeine's shrapnel was buzzing around, did you ever hear a "Y" nian say, — "No I'm sorry 
fellows this stuff is for the boys up at the front." 

Or at a training camp. "All that stuff goes to the boys at the front. They need it." 

Ka la 
POOR MARVIN 
The following conversation took place in Sgt. Anderson's billet not long a,'^o. 
Marvin Wears: — Andy, we got too many fellers in that there billet of oui'n. 
Sgt. Anderson : — What's the matter pig face ? 

M. W.: — Aw we're too th'ck up there. Somcbudy ast to move out and if you move anybudy I 
think it aught to bo one of them privates. 

ft Tz 

ANDY'S BEE HIVE 
We often wonder whether Sgt. Anderson remerr.bers the time when he, \\ith the other Sgts., were 
called .into the Orderly Room by the Captain. 

Captain James: — There has been a bee hive stolen from one of the villages, and this morning 
the empty hive was found down at the creek. Do you suspect any of the men in your sections as 
having done this? (Sgt. Anderson and the rest of the Section Chiefs replied that they did net.) 

But some how or other, when thinking over this matter, it seems to mc that I can picture Sgt. 
Anderson manouvering with a bee hive, on a moonl'ght night and wandering laboriously to the creek. 
Where upon he soaked the hive in the water until the little bees had had enough to drink and then 
proceeded to open the hive and enjoy the contents. 
Say, Andy, how about it? 

fc ft 
PRETTY NEARLY 
Walker, while watching Slocumb reading a story, saw him laugh and asked: 
"What's the matter, Jim? Did you see it?" 
"What" coming out of his trance. 
"Your mustache?" 

ft ft 

THE PICKET LINE 
The chief bone of contention is, whether more shells dropped at the picket line, or at the bat- 
tery? If left to Corpo)'als Hall and Gutridge they would vouch for the latter. This night Fritz 
was dropping his G. I. cans a scant 50 yards away from their tent, his object being a railroad. 
After one particular close shell, Corp. Hall was heard to explain, "Gee whiz, but that was a close 
one, did you feel me jump?" And Gutridge answered, "No, I was too busy jumping myself." 

ft ft 
TAYLOR DOESN'T LIKE COOTIES 
At Octendung, where we hesitated for two days on our m.arch to the Rhine, the mechanics were 
billeted on the top floor of a Post Office. Myron E. Taylor was awakened one morning by a signal 
corps man coming into the room like a man shot out of a cannon, and exclaiming "Do any German 
women come in here?" And Taylor, raising himself on his elbows, and blinking like an owl said, 
"No" and the soldier in the meanwhile was busy pulling olT his shirts, to Taylor's amazement, but 
finally, he asked him; "What are you up to?" And the answer was "cooties" but he left followed by 
Taylors empty shoes. 

ft ft 

REAL SERVICE 
"Say" said the enraged private to the supply Sergeant. "These pants you gave me are too small. 
Looky! They don't meet by two inches." 

"Well," replied the S. S. "I'll speak to the Mess Sergeant and see if he can't train you down a bit." 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



BrtiOeryfJc 




g|r05s|lH.tteryijy3QrK —C Heavy Gans) 



^-GOOD- POSITION. 




A [IJox I|lajrr».q€ 






^WIXH XHE GUNNERS. 



v^' 



X 



129 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



HOW ABOUT IT? 
When we were "rookies" we were very much impressed with the "soft stuff", and were very 
apt to believe anything that was handed us. Bnt after nine months service in the States, and 
eleven months abroad we were not quite able to believe that anybody's heart could "jump with joy." 

"KIT" GETS POLITE FOR THREE DAYS 

Sometimes it pays to be polite. Our well known artistic comrade, Corporal Carney, can vouch 
for this. Carney was called before Captain Ellery S. James one time for some minor offense. 
After an inquiry the following dialogue took place. 

Capt. Ellery S.: — I have decided that you shall be punished so I have put you on K. P. for one 
day. 

Carney: — Thank you, sir. 

Capt. Ellery S.: — I'll just make that three days. And Carney was so surprised that he forgot 
to again show his gratitude. 

SHOES 

Private, (of D Battery), addressing supply Sergeant, "Say, Sarge, I can't use these shoes you 
gimme this morning. One of 'ems a 6-E and the other's an 8%-E." 

Sergeant, (impatiently) "Now ain't that funny? I.'hats the second time that has happened in 
this last bunch of shoes. That blank, blankety Quartermaster's always balling things up so's we 
can't use em," 

ORDERS THAT NEVER WERE 
HQ. 324th F. A. HEAVY 
A. P. O. 734, FEB. 8, 1919. 

General Order No. 73 

Par. 1. The attention of Division, Brigade and Regimental commanders has been called to the 
fact that typhoid fever has made its appearance among the enlisted men and officers of the army of 
Occupation. It is reported that new cases are developing daily. 

Par. 2. Whereas typhoid fever is strictly a water disease and is caused by germs finding their 
way into the intestines, it is ordered that the following regulations be strictly complied with. 

1. Each organization will prepare, before breakfast every morning, a large quantity of fried 
eggs. The eggs are to be prepared as follows; — Skillet will be greased with butter, and four eggs 
at a time will be broken and placed therein. While cooking, the eggs will be salted and peppered 
to the individual's taste. Cook slowly until all but the yolk is firm to the touch. Hot butter will 
be poured over eggs just prior to serving. 

2. Men will be forced to line up and two eggs will be issued to each one. Men should be 
checked up on the roster of the organization to see that all under go this preventative treatment. 

By order of Colonel Ashburn, 
E. E. NORTON, 
324th F. A., U. S. A. 
to fc 
THE SOLDIER'S PRAYER 
Our Father who art in Washington, honored be thy name. Give us this day our long delayed 
■pay and forgive us our A. W. O. L., as we forgive the bugler, the mess sergeant and all who wear 
bars: And lead us not into the Army of Occupation, but deliver us from the fatigue squad, for 
thine is the army, the M. P's, the Q. M. and the field Clei'ks, forever and ever, 

AH OUI. 



130 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 




iiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 

THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



MAJOR NASH'S IVORY DOME 
Back in the days of the Army of Occupation, while we were stationed at Kausen, we used to 
go over to Brettenau occasionally to see a show. The shows were j^enerally delayed from fifteen 
minutes to half hour, until the Second Battallion officers made their appearance. The first time it 
happened we whiled away the time by "cussing" all oflicers in general and those of our Battalion in 
particular. Afterward, we always waited patiently, until the officers filed in and took their seats in 
the very front row. And were amply rewarded for our wait when Major Nash removed his cap. 

Pa te 
MOUNT ON THE JOB 
Lt. Cvego, "All cannoneers and drivers will grease the pieces immediately." 
"Snappy" Mount, sitting by a warm bon-fire, addresses his bunkie, "Wall, Bill, ourn don't need 
it yet, it ain't a squeakin', but then we'll grease'er anyhow." 

Ray Jones has the reputation of being "consistent", yet even a man with that reputation will 
m^ake a mistake once in a while. Ray went into the Orderly room once at Kausen, and, after execut- 
ing' a very snappy salute, informed LI. Palmer that he came in after his "record." Cross examina- 
ttion brought out the fact that he was after his months pay. 

fc Pa 

Scene: — General Court's Martial, held in a cafe at Grossemaiched. 

Enter Ben Wilson. 

Judge Advocate: — "Tell the court your name, rank and organization." 

Ben (Slowly and precisely): — "Ben Wilson, second class private. Battery D, 324th Field Artil 
lery." 

Freddy Compliment, (at Coetquidan) : — "Yes, sir, 1 went to bed last night all ready for reveille, but 
some way or another my cap slipped ofi' during the night. I was the second one out at that." 

RUSS TAKES A BATH 

Anyone who was with Battery D on the Front could well imagine what this world would be 
vdthout women. It is some relief to know that women are not going to bother a fellow, especially 
when he is going to take a bath. Russel Mock set the example when he heated water over a fire 
and bathed on a high bank by the side of the main road, just outside of Samognieux. Russ kept 
an anxious eye on the main road and when questioned about it he explained that there might be a 
stray Y. M. C. A. car wander up that way. 

He need not have been alarmed, for there had been a Y car through there with the latest news- 
papers just five days before. 

HOW ABOUT IT, CANNONEERS ? 

Cannoneers may, and doubtless will, protest this assertion, but the lot of a "driver" in the Field 
Artillery is a. hard and busy one. Ninety-nine per-cent of all the drivers in the army cherish the 
hope that some day they will get on a squad and forever have it "soft". There in lies the following 
story. 

The "Duke" of Wellington, otherwise known as Oscar J., No. 2686943, was a driver in Battery 
D. He departed from our midst while the battery was at Kausen, being transferred to the 322nd 
F. A. Upon repoiting to his new B. C. the following dialogue ensued. 

Battery Commander: — "Are you a driver or a cannoneer? 

"The Duke" — "Cannoneer, sir" 

B. C: — "Where do you put the aiming stake?" 

Wellington, after an embari-assing pause, "I dunno, sir." 

B. C. (addressing the top kick), "Sergeant, have this man report to the Stable Sergeant in the 
morning. And don't trust him with any of our aiming stakes!" 



132 



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133 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



THAT Y MAN 
All of the boys have, or should have, a good word for the Y. M. C. A. Yet some of us always 
have a good laugh when we think of the secretary who took a run and dive up the hillside the 
evening Heine cut loose on us with his 77's. The funniest part of it was that he went the wrong 
direction. 

ea Pa 

HENRY BECOMES A HERO 

Down at Cierges — you remember Cierges, don't you? — the 324th was halted in the middle of 
the town for a long time. The combat train of Battery D was parked in the middle of a very, very 
muddy stretch of road, beyond which on the right loomed the towers of a very fine church, and on 
the left — O! Ye Gods of War — the commissary and ration dump of the 90th Division. 

Battery D had pulled into the eastern part of Cierges late the night before in the midst of a 
dismal drizzle. Supper had been a minus quantity and breakfast consisted of bully beef. Christian 
Science bread and the ever present "Muriatic Acid." Imagine the consternation (?) in the breast 
of tTie two hundred odd members of D Battery when the above mentioned ration dump appeared on 
the hoiizon. And when the combat train halted exactly in front of the dump, and word was passed 
back that the column would be there for some time, it looked bigger to the men than the Woolworth 
Building. And they went after that ration dump like a German prisoner after a can of bully. 
The cannoneers went across the field double time, v.'hile the drivers leaned far out on their horses 
and shouted encouragment to them, and admonitions to "Bring some back." 

But every ration dump is guarded in a more or less systematic manner. This one looked like a 
hard nut at first, for the guards met the boys on the "first-step" and shoved them up into one corner, 
where they had piled a large quantity of hardtack which had been exposed to the rain the night 
before. Again and again some enterprising buck or non-com would try and run the gauntlet and 
get to the piles of jam, milk and canned beans, only to be headed off with his goal in sight. 

The duel between the guards and the hunger of Battery D continued for some time and it began 
to look like the hungry ones would have to retire in disorder. But we have reckoned without our 
hero, who is none other than our enterprising Chief Mechanic, Henry Fink. 

Henry had been one of the first to alight when the ration dump came in view. He had miule 
a reconnoitering tour while the remainder of the Battery was busy with the guards, and had located 
an unprotected pile of canned beans. He loaded up one case and made the trip to his wagon 
safely. One case of beans does not go far among two hundred men, to whom beans arc a treat, 
so Henry started on a second trip. He secured the second case of beans, while all the D drivers 
on the road watched anxiously and with l)atcd breath, ready to shout a warning if they sav/ that he 
VNas spotted. 

When Henry, with his heavy case of lieans under his arm, had negotiated about half the dis- 
tance to the road, a strange Captain made his appearance, coming from the ration dump and directly 
toward Fink. He was within twenty feet of him befoi'e unsuspecting Henry saw him. Immediately 
he quickened his pace. The Captain did likewise. The audience of drivers drew long breaths and held 
them. The Captain and Henry arrived at the point where their paths must cross at exactly the 
same second. The expectant drivers were within easy hearing distance and braced themselves 
to hoar Henry get a bawling-out. But the Captain merely drew back to let Henry pass, and then 
continued on his way! 

Well, the drivers all helped Fink cool his fevered brow, after which the beans were opened and 
every one had an appreciated lunch. 

Pa ?a 

"What do you think of the army as far as you have gone?" inquired a sergeant of a newly 
arrived recruit at camp. 

"1 may like it after awhile, but just now I think there is too much drilling and fussing around 
between meals," was the reply. 



134 



""""" "" """■' .......„„„,„„„ „„„ 

THE TRAIL 



OF BATTERY d" 




135 



IIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



IlillllllllllllllllllllM 



ONE EXCUSE DESERVES ANOTHER 
Colonel Ashburn: — Young man have you a pair of shoes?" 
Shipley: — "Yes Sii'." 
Col.: — "What are you wearing those hoots for." 

Ship: — "To keep my feet dry." 

fc ft 

HEARD AT THE PICKET LINE 
Bevy: — "That's a bum job. You'll have to cuii-y those forelegs again." 
Keller:— "All right." 

Bevy: — "I supposed a farmer could curry a horse." 
Keller: — "They can but they don't curry by counts." 

ft m 

J., R. Wears: — "I'm going out west when the war's over." 

Shipley:— "What State?" 

J. R. Wears: — "Maine or Florida." 

Wilkinson, who was never known to be in a hurry, was slowly walking towards the school house 
in Kausen when a head popped out of billet No. 30 and said, "Better snap'er up. Taps sounded at 10 
o'clock. 

It may be due to the fact that our knowledge of music is very limited but will some one kindly 
tell us how John R. Wears gets vocal music out of a violin. 

CROOKS ALL 

Once upon a time there was a corporal named Prosser who by dint of close watching and fast 
work accumulated two loaves of bread. One a fine white loaf and the other of half and half. The 
bread was carried under the seat of the chariot de pars from which point of vantage the afore 
mentioned corporal put out an occasional slice cut from the half and half. This fact of course 
rankled in the hearts of the buddies as they thought inasmuch as there was white bread on hand it 
should be passed around. 

Now Prosser was away finding the billets for the section, the extra cannoneers were helping 
the drivers put away their mounts, and all that was left of the section was a corporal, a sergeant and 

a buglar. The idea seemed to strike them individually but approximately at the same time. 

Jim walked along on one side of the wagon and mounted the front wheel, climbing from there to the 
seat only to meet Morrow who was coming up from the othe)- side. Jim looked at Morrow and \'ice 
versa. 

"I know what you are after." 

"Yes it's Prosser's white bread you want, isn't it?" 

Suffice it is to say that they agreed to share alike and soon made their get away. Stopping 
on the other side of the next wagon to conceal their plunder they observed Esterline approaching 
the wagon with a determined expression on his face. They lingered just a moment to enjoy his 
discomfiture when he found someone had beat him to it; and that night they — the — buglar and the 
sergeant — put out good white bread to its original owner and snickered. 

"They're dudes," the German junker cried, 

"They cannot fight, that's true." 
Since then he's had cause to decide 

What the Yankee dude'll do. 



136 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



GOOD INSTRUCTIONS 

Tact and diplomacy have their place, even in the army, but Ward Hisey threw both to the 
winds the time he^But here's the story; you can judge for yourself. 

Brigadier General Fleming was inspecting the Battery, and he was accompanied by Major 
Nash. Every inspection has a "specialty", and this time the General was very inquisitive about 
the horses; their care, grooming, etc. That department of the Battery being under the supervi- 
sion of Lieutenant Crego, he also accompanied the General and the Major. 

All went well until the General cast his eye over Hisey's firey steeds. Then he stiffened per- 
ceptibly and Lt. Crego saw breakers ahead. 

"Those horses have not been properly groomed", snapped the General. Then, to Hisey, "Show 
me how you do it." 

Hisey hastily clutched his manicure set (i. e. — grooming kit) and made several frantic passes at 
the nearest horse. The General watched closely. 

"See there! See there!" He exclaimed, in an 'I told you so tone'. He don't know how to do 
it. Who told you how to groom a horse that way?" Hisey hesitated for a long five seconds, while 
Lt. Crego drew an anxious breath, then — "The Major," explained Hisey. 

When last seen, Lt. Crego wore a relieved smile, while Major Nash had a curry comb in one 
hand and a bnish in the other waving them alternately between the horse and the General, talking 
lapidly all the tim>^. 

* fc 

Captain: — Your rank, sir? 

Rookie: — Don't rub it in. Captain! That's just what the Sergeant told me." 

Uncle: — The French gained 400 meters from the enemy. 

Auntie: — How splendid! That should help to put a stop to these dreadful gas attacks." 

The Youth: — When we were torpedoed I swam about foity-two hours before being picked up. 
The Maiden: — Oh, how jolly! I love swimming." 

PLUGS 

It was grooming period at the picket line and the command "Stand at Heel" had been given. 
Capt. James started down the line to inspect the horses. Upon coming to one with a cracked hoof 
he asked the buck if the horses hoof was cracked. This answer was given — " Yes sir, he's pait cow." 

K pa 

It was in Bain-de-Bretagne during one of the usual Surday inspections that the following was 
said — 

Major Morse: — "McCoy, how tall are you?" 

"Mac": — "Six feet four.'' 

Major Morse: — "Huh, I didn't know they piled it that high." 

While discussing th^^ road that leads from Kausen to Stebach, Shipley grew rather warm under 
the collar and vehemently said: — By God, they're not all rig'nt angles some of them are left angles. 
I've been over often enough to know." 

This was heard at our second position on the morning we pulled into it. Everyone was out 
trying to get the guns mto position but "Doc" Watkins. All efforts to rouse him seemed futile. 
Fmally Major Nash was heard to say in a rising inflection "Put the boots to him — Put the hobs 
to him — Leap upon him." 



137 



I iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 

THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 
iiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 



This little accident happened in one of the cafes at Bain. One well known and only Tom 
Gaffeny being out of cigarettes kindly asked a comrade how to ask for some in French. On enter- 
ing the cafe Tom asked for "Pain et Beurre" and the waitress immediately brought some bread 
and butter to the table at which Tom was sitting. Thinking that she was just setting 'em up, Tom 
ate the bread and butter and once more asked for "Pain et Beurre". This time he was expecting 
his smokes to be trotted out but to his amazement the waitress brought out another plate of bread 
and butter. 

This made Tom Check. He had to hunt up another friend to enable him to get his smokes. 

fc ft 
A PESSIMIST 

Penquite: — "Freddy, somebody been mistreating you?" 

Compliment: — "Aw, we're going home now and I'll have to put postage stamps on my letters!" 

One, day Sam I'ansler handed Larkin a letter. Mark didn't notice that it was addressed "Mac" 
Larkin. Full of happy anticipations, he tore it open and drew forth the photo of a big fat colored 
girl. 

"This ain't for me! said Mark, "Take-it-back. 

Freddie Compliment and the Supply Sergeant were discussing the squad with which they were 
to make the trip across the Atlantic. 

Said Freddie: — "We ought to get Nethers in our squad; he's got a hundred bucks." 
Stilwell: — "What good is that to us? He don't shoot crap." 
Freddie: — "I know, but he sleeps." 

» la 

"Now then," said the Captain to his men, "we'll go through the drill quickly. Fall in." 
The men did. 
"Fall out." 

The men did. But one man started to walk off. 
"Here, Rich, Where are you going?" 

"Back" was the laconic answer. "I'll be damned if I go through such fool stunts. You don't 
know your own mind one minute from another." 

A burly Iiishman broiight into the base hospital pretty well "shot up." After giving his name, 
the doctor asked him: — 
"You're an Ii'ishman?" 
"Half of me, sir," he replied. 

"Half of you?" asked the doctor in surprise. "And what's the other half." 
"German, sir," was the reply. "German shrapnel, bits of iron, and holes." 

Cholly: — The war was dreadful, why one couldn't tell when the laundry was coming home! 

"Who was the chap who dragged you out of no man's land — K. of C, Y. M. C. A., Jewish War 
Relief or Salvation Army?" 

■ "Sure, what's the difference." 

She had intently watched the soldier for some time. Then she ventured: "The chin strap, 
1 suppose, is to keep your hat on, my man?" 

"No," replied the Yank, "It's to rest the jaw after answering questions." 



138 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



iSlmcDrd SftDirnes 



te 



Squirrel Food Twenty Years After — Roy J. Herrick Page 140 

A. W. 0. L. — Anonymous Page 145 

An Impression, What I Mean! — Roy J. Herrick ._. Page 147 

First Impressions — Ohmer H. Engle Page 151 

Quick Change of Equipment — Arthur W. Jones Page 152 

The Boomerang — George H. Prosser Page 153 

Punk — George H. Prosser Page 154 

Battery D. Prisoner — George H. Prosser Page 155 



139 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



^CQ 



qminirrefl F(D®(q1 T^/'SJily Toa'(\3 Mflceir 



ROY J. HERRICK 



It was a September morning, 1950. I was down on my luck, tired and out of humor; I was 
ready to throw my job, in fact, and hit the pike and kitchen doors for good. I sat down on the road- 
side, and laid my dog-eared portfolio and my battered old brown derby, on the grass beside me. 

"A dog's life, this book peddling" said I to myself. "Besides, who in hell wants to buy this 
cursed old horse-doctor book, anyhow? Nobody. That one 1 got rid of day before yesterday the 
farmer took off my hands just to get me off the place. Dad burned if — 

Just then my eye fell upon a big red and yellow poster on the board fence across the road: 



o 


ONIONVILLE 


w 


ON 

o 


COUNTY FAIR 


H 


w 

CQ 

w 


THE 

WORLD'S 

BIGGEST, BEST, 


5- 


c« 


ETC. ETC. 





"Here's luck!" said I to myself. Why todays the 10th and Onionville is right back of that big 
woods over there. Guess I'll just drop over and see the doings!" 

A farmer in a lumberwagon came along and I bummed a I'ide. When we came to the big yellow 
arched gate at the fairgrounds, the farmer drove right in, but I got off and retreated to a shady 
tree across the road. Under the big yellow gateway, you see, there stood a tall lank man in a stove 
pipe hat, who sported a white ribbon on the lapel of his coat, and who had seen me coming. 

For two hours I sat under that tree, watching the crowd come in and cursing my luck and 
the hard-hearted world. Then a member of the Road Fraternity approached me. (Why members 
of this honored organization had of late been making free of my society I'm sure I don't know; 
unless it was that my clothes had gathered dust from many country roads — which was nothing to 
be ashamed of, I'm sure!) This member gently laid his baggage — which was tied up in a red ban- 
dana and slung on the end of a stick — upon the grass and sat down beside me with the free easy 
manner of an own brother. 

1 would have liked to say, "Well, I like your nerve!" but I didn't. He was about six feet two 
and a yard wide. What I did say was, "Fine day, aint it!" 

He sized me up, lamped my dog-eared portfolio, reached over and picked it up, and looked 
into it as cool as you'd wish. 

"Putting anything out?" he asked suddenly. 

"Well, not exactly, but that ther book, now, its invaluable to all" — 

"Oh hell!" I didn't ask you if you were puttin' anything out — not a bum like you. But here 
at the fair, any free lunches around here? 

I looked this shiftless, low-lived fellow over a second time — and then a third — and clapped him 
on the back!" 

"Andy, by heck!" I explained, "aint you Anderson, the guy that used to be in Battery "D" back 
in the war.?" 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



He swelled up and glared at me for hitting him on the back, and I thought sure I was a goner 
for a minute, then he recognized me. 

"Herrick, by dad!" Who'd 'a' thunk it! 

Well, Andy and I talked over old times for a while, then we decided to go in and see the fair. 
Picking up our possessions, we pressed into the crowd next the gate, awaited our chance, then 
slipped on thra. 

"Hey, you there! — you bum with the brown derby! — get out of here!" 

It was the six-o'clock in the stove-pipe hat. He was bearing down on us from his stand by the 
yellow gate. We cut and ran for it thru the crowd, but six-o'clock hollered, "Hi, there, Carson — 
stop 'em!" and we charg^'-d plumb into the hands of a big copper in full uniform and buttons. 

He was as big as Andy, and more over he had a club; so we did a right-about and set out, left, 
right, left, right for the gate. Outside, he lined us up for a lecture. 

"I'll give you two bums one chance," he declared. "Hit the pike, and hit it right away. If I 
pipe you again, it's the jug for" — 

He stopped and peered down into our faces. We looked at each other, Andy and 1. 

■'Bust my dome off if it ain't Anderson!" said the bull, "And" — 

"Herrick," said I. You wouldn't be hard on us, would you, Carson?" 

"Go along down the fence there across from that old shed, and I'll let you in" he answered. 

Inside the fence, behind the Agricultural Building, we three exchanged a few brief memories. 
Carson, of the Springfield Police force, had been engaged by the Fai*' association at Onionville for 
the week. 

"And do you remember Stilly — Lamar S. Stilwell — what used to be our supply sergeant and 
took our clothes away from us in the old days? Well, that's him — that long gent in the stovepipe 
up at the gate — same fellow that run you two bees out of the grounds. Secretary of the Onionville 
Fair Association. And, say, hold on a minute! We're holdin' a re-union tonight. Stilwell got a 
room for us above the Citizens Bank, which you'll find down on the right of the street. You may 
look a little the worse for wear, but don't worry; the men'll overlook a little thing like that. Stil- 
well didn't recognize you, or he'd 'a' let you in. Here's a quarter apiece; get a hot dog!" 

I hesitated about taking the handout, but I noticed that Andy bent forward to it. 

"World owes it to you!" he afterw-ard explained. "Might's well take what you got comin'. 
Besides, I ain't had a shot in the arm for a coons age!" 

Carson had scarcely turned his back on us when we heard a terrific uproar in the crowd just 
around the comer of the Agricultural Building. There was a series of crashes like a train wreck, 
accompanied by loud and bloody screams and man> oaths. You would have thought a band of 
Apaches had got loose with Geronium himself at their head. 

We looked at each other and our jaws fell. Andy's phiz was so white you could see it under 
his dirt and whiskers. We grabbed each other round the neck in mortal and panic fear. 

"Haw — haw — haw — hie'. Waw — Hie! Looka tha' — hie — looka tha' boes!" 

We looked around. There stood a shabby, clownish-looking fellow of middle age, his nose alight 
with the workings of the water of life, laughing like a sill> drunken gaffer. He rocked on his heels, 
and pointed a grimy finger at us. 

"Looka the' — hie! — boes! Wha — Wha'-ya seared of, hey? Haw-Haw! Tha' I'i'l fracas round the 
corner? Tha's-hic!-tha's notin' — only Bunny Mor-rison drivin' his coal wagon over a rut! Haw-haw- 
hie! — Haw-haw!" 

Now Anderson had always been a very brave man. Give him a fair show and he'd never 
back down for anj'thing, man or beast. He straightened up out of hand and enquired of chat tipsy 
rascal what th'ell he meant by carryin' on that way: He, Anderson, wasn't afraid of the President 
himself. 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



"No-liic! — Betcher ain't!" replied the other. You're h-hic! — here, President he's over in the 
White House, thousand miles away! Haw-haw!" 

This riled Andy and he collared the fellow; but he didn't lambast him: on a close look — up where 
the light of the facial ornament shone past and didn't hurt a man's eyes — he recognized — Penquite! 

Not desiring to spoil our good reputation, wc shoved Penny behind the Agricultural Building 
a measly trick, I admit, and hit for the crowd. It was the usual fair crowd, dusty and hot, as the 
hour was near noon and the September sun still mustered some degree of his summer heat. Kids 
frolicked hither and thither; old gentlemen marched arm in arm with a look of happy reminiscence 
upon their faces; the balloon man's cluster of variegated bubbles bobbed above the stream of heads, 
and cries of the nigger-baby man, the fruit peddler, the side-show barker, and other advertisers 
rent the air. 

"It is hot — and so dirty! My!" said a voice at our elbow, a masculine but somewhat delicate 
\oice. 

"Just so, — Ed. I just hate these messy county fairs," responded a second voice, also masculine 
and of a rather dainty timbre; "but, my sakes, one has to attend them, you know!" 

We shied and piped the lay. "I never did see why they couldn't keep some of this vulgar crowd 
out" — and we saw that the first voice belonged to a pale, slight gentlemen of middle age, who, just 
as we lamped him, winced and brushed his coat sleeve with a dainty hand where a careless passerby 
had elbowed him. 

"What 1 say, — is, we ought to have a fair of our own.'' The second speaker was tall, fair- 
cheeked, plump of hand, and stylishly dressed from his modish and new felt hat down to his twenty- 
five dollar shoes. He held a green rubber balloon by a white thread from his right hand, while 
ir his left I saw a neatly pulled pair of suede gloves. "If we held a fair of our own," this fair- 
cheeked gentleman continued, "we would feel like bi'inging one's wife and children to it." 

"And one's grandchildren!" pursued the other, the slightly man with a smile. "By the by, 
how is little Freddie, I see you have a balloon for him!" 

"My daughter's first born? Oh, the youngster is doing fine since he ate that last doorknob — 
just fine!" 

There was something reminiscent about them two gentlemen; we scrutinized them and ex- 
changed glances. "By Bevy," whispered Anderson, "I — I — Damon and Pythias!" — and his jaw drop 
ped. We edged away and went about our business of seeing the fair. 

Between a nigger baby outfit and a side show with an "undress" performance being staged as 
bait on its barker platform, there was an open space, and in front of this open space we observed a 
large conglomeration of people. Even the balloon man had gravitated thither standing there, on 
tip toe, at the outside of the crowd trying to see over the heads in front of him. The attraction 
was a speaker on some sort of raised stand. His head, shoulders, and gesticulating arms were 
visible above the audience; bareheaded, his dark hair danced, tousled and wild atop his stressful move- 
ments; his mouth was wide and served a faii-ly effective megaphone, and his eyes seemed to bulge 
from his head, no doubt pushed outward by the pressure of inspii'ed gray matter within. 

We stepped closer. 

"Come to God, men and women, come to God, I say, and let him kiss away your sins!" we heard 
the speaker say. Andy was for retreating; but I grabbed his arm, and we staid on a bit. "Come 
to God, for Christ's sake, the Devil, and come to God; for old Satan's a wicked cuss and he means 
nobody good but himself. Maybe, dear brethren, you've got debts to pay the Devil. What of it? 
Let God pay them for you! He will!" 

The speaker waxed warm. His protruding eyes searched the crowd, as if he was looking for 
the Old Boy himself. And they came to rest upon — Andy and me. 

"You: — there! — you two brethren. Come and kiss the hand of Christ! Come — " 

But we were taking for tall timber. And yet the fellow jumped down into the crowd, rushed 
after us, seized us by the arms, forced us to accompany him back to his stand. He lugged us up by 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



the ears, you might say; but just as he raised his arm to summon God to witness before his audience, 
a blank look overcame his face. "For the Lord's sake, men," he whispered to us across his shoulder, 
"Don't spill the beans or your old friend Eddie Pierce is a ruined man! I didn't recognize you till this 
minute or I'd never have got you up here. Meet me down at the race track pavilion tonight at 
twelve bells and we'll kill a quart of good old Three Star apiece. Have a heart: say a word for God 
and the three of us, and half the proceeds are yours! Now — let 'er go!" 

It's a measly shame we never got to meet Pieice that night do\VTi at the pavilion. Pierce was 
a loyal fellow and no doubt kept his word. Pierce was always a loyal fellow, one of the most 
loyal fellows we had with us in these early days when we fought the Boche over there across 
the pond. But, you see, that Onionville sheriff, dad burn his ornery, unsympathizing hide, he — 
but I'm getting ahead of my story! — 

Andy and I had lots of surprises that day at the fair. We had an unholy streak of good or 
bad luck, as you care to take it, running into boys from old Battery "D". It's beyond me how they 
all happened to congregate at that fracas in Onionville — unless it was on account of the Three Star 
tliat happened mysteriously to be around! 

The next member we met had a collection of war relics gathered. Gentlemen and ladies, at 
the cost of heroic personal exposure under devastating shell fire upon the bleeding and hell-smithen 
fields of France, Adults 10c, Children 5c, step right up, gentlemen, women an' children, and see 
the Wonders of the Great War! The chance of a lifetime, don't miss it — don't miss it, I say! Better 
than college education, better than a trip to South America, at only a dime, ten cents, the tenth of 
a dollar, children five cents! 

At our approach, the owner of the collection, a lanky man with d" straggling sandy mustache 
and wearing a stove-pipe hat, struck the gorgeously painted canvas at his back a resounding crack 
with his whip and burst forth anew in description of his show. The canvas represented a 
lurid battle scene in bloody, horrifying colors. One wee small boy, open-mouthed and pop-eyed, 
represented the showman's audience; it was evident that the fresh appeal had been directed to Andy 
and me. 

Andy, seeing how there was nobody around, grew bold. Raising a deprecating hand. "Stay off 
that stuff, man, you're scaring the crowd away" h.^ remarked to the lank man in the silk skypiece. 
"As for us, me an' this gen'leman's seen more o' them trinkets than you ever dreamt existed. We 
been there. Why — " 

The showman interrupted him. 

"Where'd you get your moonshine?" 

"Moonshine hell!" retorted Andy; and then the argument started which disclosed George Pres- 
ser's identity to us. 

We had a friendly chat, and saw the collection for nothing. George told us some of the amus- 
ing tales he was in the habit of relating visitors about how he had secured this and that relic "at 
great personal risk and danger;" also, that this present venture was only a scheme he had for making 
enough shekels to take him to South America, where he hoped soon to lead a revolution in the 
country of Equador. At length he reminded us of the reunion to be held that evening above the 
Citizens' Bank; gave us each a shot of Three Star, and bade us good-bye for the time being. His 
profits weren't mounting very fast, you see, and he wanted to get away on his trip before the 
rheumatism hit him too hard. 

It was right after leaving George that we rai' across poor Jim Slocumb. He was trying to 
play the coronet in the Onionville band, you see, and just as we came by they ejected him. I don't 
understand why they had to be so rough with him, tho; he was doing his level best, that which no 
man can do more! He lit on his head. We had already recognized him by his note in the new song, 
"Jenny Won't you Tickle Me." Anderson stood him on his right end and handed him his damaged 
instrument; then we tried to console the poor, unfortunate man, telling him that we knew he couldn't 
do any better no matter how hard he tried, and that now e\'erything would be all O K. for he 
probably wouldn't play on that old Onionville Band again and all this sort of stuff; but he didn't 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



seem to cave a cent for our consolation, we left him and went on our way. 

During the course of the afternoon we met Ben Musser in an old soldier's uniform strolling 
leisurely down the pike, telling the kids war stories, etc. He told us he didn't have any use for 
that oriental show up next to Pierce's place — girls and all that, you know. And we ran into Gut- 
ridge. It was down among the machinery. 

"Reckon I'll buy one, o' these here gasoline engines," he informed us. "Want to git shet o' that 
ole water power consarn o' mine up in the hills." It was a saw mill he was referring to. He studied 
the bright new engine snorting there before us with a pleased shine upon his face. "Reckon she'll 
lun that-a-way with coal oil, do ye?" he said; "I kin git slathers o' coal oil, but gasoline's rether 
shy." 

Leaving this corner of the grounds, with its clanking and snorting and the oily smell of machin- 
ery, Andy and I proceeded over to the race track a half mile ellipse enclosed in white-washed 
board fences. We went down below the grandstand where the crowd, mostly men, gathered in 
knots near the startei's pavilion. An event had just been finished; drivers in bright colored caps, 
Jed away their horses, which had been blanketea by the flunkeys who dashed out from the sides 
of the track. 

Now, we should never have gone down there to the races at all. If we had kept away from there 
the chances are we would have reached the reunion that night and probably got a few shots of 
Three Star. But, then, accidents will happen, even in a Sunday School, so there you are! In brief, 
this is what occurred: 

We happened into the vicinity of three men near the white-washed fence, one of whom wore a 
bicycle cap, another, a tall, lean man with a bootjack face, had on a well worn derby, and the third 
rather smaller than the other two, was dressed in sober black with a plain black felt hat to match. 
The latter carried his arms in a peculiar manner, the elbows slightly bent and hitched backward from 
his body; and the man in the bicycle cap had extraordinary big ears. 

"That's why he only wears a cap," whispered Andy in my ear; "Them ears'd be shade enough 
for any man." 

The man with the ears was leaning back against the fence. "Y'ever heard the story" — he com- 
menced, but was cut short by a blast from the tall one, a blast which was directed to no one 

in particular but rather at a fence post: 

"Frame up, I tell you! Nothin' but another dog-goned frame up! Nothin' but another dog- 
goned frame up to steal a fellows money'" 

"Now, Jack," said the soberly attired gentleman in a sober and earnest voice'! — Now, Jack, 
don't blaspheme. It's against the commandments, and moreover you did wrong in the first place to 
bet your money in this sinful way!" 

The one with the bootjack face lifted a baleful eye. The man with the ears tried to launch his 
story. 

"I say, men, "Y'ever hear the story — " 

"Yes, Jack, you did wrong; to bet is a sin." The sober chap with the funny looking elbows grew 
more earnest, and raised his hands in the fashion of one who would make an appeal. "To bet is 
a sin, for Christ, who came to earth to save our souls, has told us so. Besides, your wife; What 
■would she say?" 

The baleful eye of the tall one grew steadily more baleful; but the man with the ears, failing 
to observe the strained situation, tried again to brouch his story. 

"I say' men, did you e^er hear about — " 

"And the influence upon your children!" continued the slighter man in the sober clothes ."Why, 
Jack Campbell, if your children ever — " 

"Say Clifton Hall, v-^hat n'ell you mean buttin'ir. my private affairs this way, huh? You blinkety 
blank fool, what you mean, hay! I'll — " — and the ireful Jack made a bruising motion forward that 
almost scared the preacher out the back of his neck. 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



We recognizefl our friends by this time, with dear old windy Wid Moon in the background; and 
thinking to avert the shameful row, we rushed be tween them, their names upon our lips. But, alas, 
at this moment something hard and heavy took us each a clip on the crown that showed us seven 
new constellations apiece and set us to dreaming of home and mother; when we awoke we were on the 
outside of the fairgrounds, half a mile away, facing the county pike. 

Climbing to our feet, we rubbed our battered heads. Standing there facing us were two big 
bulls in the regulation blue, with between them a monkey-eyed little old whiskered dutfer who was 
in the act of displaying to us a tin star affixed to that part of his vest above his breast. 

"Tryin' fer assault and robb'ry, was ye?" announced the constable. "Hanging around this fair 
so's ye could attack peaceable citizens, was ye, an' rob them in broad daylight, was ye?" 

"But — " said Anderson. 

"But we no buts!" said the constable of Onionville, "If 't' warnt thc1 our jail was already full 
to overflowin', in yed'd go, the both of ye. But we ain't got no more room. Set off down the pike, 
now, an' be peaceable; and don't show up agin round this here Orionville County Fair. Git!" 

We got. 1 here was nothing else to do. No doubt our old comrades had failed to recognize us, 
or they might have helped us out of the scrape. Still, I'm not :-.u,-e about it: the lid had been on for 
an unholy long time you see, and there must have been a limit to old Three Star! 

ft (sa 

A. W. O. L« 

(Anonymous) 

It was Jit Kausen a few days before the ban was placed on deer hunting. Conditions were ideal. 
We knew that we had no right to hunt, but yet we had no orders not to. It would be a poor soldier 
and a poorer sportman who would net take advantage of such conditions of affairs; so after duck- 
ing one formation and fixing the sarge for the next one we sneaked out with our rifles. As we were 
leaving the village the following conversation took place: 

"Corps, we have got to look out for the officers." 

"No they wont say anything." 

"Maybe they won't, but we have sure got to look out for Bevy." 

"Thats right, he would tell on himself if he caught himself doing anything." 

"Well here we are load and fire at will." 

"Brush are thicker'n hell here, aint they Put. 

"Yes Corp. but keep your mouth shut and your eyes open." 

"There goes one." 

"There goes one.' 

"Why didn't you shoot?" 

"Why didn't you shoot?" 

"Well Corps I guess that I was waiting for orders." 

"Let's move on and maybe we will find another one." 

"Say Corps these Germans shure have some sjsteni haven't they. They have even got the trees 
trained to right dress. Look at the lows lined up like Battery "D" in review." 

"You see Pvt. this is just a sample of good forestry system. It works this way. With the timber 
well taken care of and planted close together, the land produces more, the owners make more money 
so they are able to pay more taxes and — " 



145 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



"Gee you are smart aint you Corp?" 

"But here is a thicket, you wait here and I will chase them out to you." 

I waited, Pvt. went into the thicket and in about five minutes three deers came tearing out by 
me and I shot at them as long as I could see them. Pvt. came out in a few minutes expecting to 
see at least two, he said, but after looking all around and seeing none he asked: 

"Well Corps why didn't you get one?" 

"It seemed like everytime I got ready to shoot a ti-ee jumped between me and the deer. But 
that is a good idea of yours, just chasing them out to be shot at so we wll try it again over here 
in another thicket which they went into. I will wait right here while you chase them out to me 
and — " 

"Wait a minute there Corps you don't spring your lank on me like that, I will wait here and you 
can try a turn on the chasing out stunt." 

I did not have anything to put up against an argument like that so I went into the thicket to 
chase them out. I crawled through, under and over some of the thickest undergrowths possible and 
just Joefore I finally reached the edge Pvt's. gun cracked and a bullet went very near to my head. 
I stepped out into the open quickly and Pvt. spoke. "Gee I almost got a goat that time!" But I 
asked him reproachfully, "How often have I told you to be careful about your sights ? "Look at your 
gun now you have the sight set at 200 yards, you never will hit anything that way. Anyhow I 
guess we had better hunt together from now on so let's move on. 

"Private a year ago you were a simple country boy and did not dream that today you would 
be a member of a triumphant army, hunting the kaiser's deer in the beautiful forest of conquered — 
many and — " 

"Say Corps where do you get that simple stuff. If I was a simple country boy what did you 
happen to be?" 

"Now, now Private — " bang bang bang! 

"I got him" 

"I got him!" 

"Where do you get that stuff corps, didn't you see me shoot him?" 

"Well anyhow we got it so now you go back and get a sack from Markley to carry it home in 
while I stay here and watch it. And while you're going you might just as well take both guns 
with you." 

"There you go again, Corp. springing your rank on me! That would be fine, me taking all the 
chance of being caught carrying the rifles in besides going after the sack." 

Well Pvt. we will flip this mark to see who goes. So which do you want heads or tails?" 

"I will take heads." 

"Well Pvt. you see it isn't heads." 

"No there ain't no heads on a mark, now that I think of it, but if I have to go I must." 

Private Brenan complained quite often of stomach trouble. "Stewed" up pretty well one day 
on champange and sour wine he reported at sick call. Munching a big chicken sandwich he 
walked into "Doc's" office. 

"Doc" Byrne knew him by reputation and smiled as he asked. "What's the matter Brennan. 
Is it your turn to do guard duty today?" 

pa s-a 

"They've got to stand at attention when Bevington com.es around just as they do for us 
officers." 

Did you ever hear Pvt. Slocum say? "I won't be "sassified" until I meet Mrs. F. A. Heavy." 



146 




Illlllllltllllllllllllllllllllltlllllllllllllllllllllll 

THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



A a hwo'C 0.-5.-3 1 \\j W Ua t ( iVl o an] 

Roy J. Heirick 

It was well and good to try and make an impression on the Germans — an impression of dignity 
and power, as we gathered from sundry orders and memorandums it was our duty to do. But at 
critical times the roast should never have been left in the hands of any shavetail. It .-^tood chances 
of getting burnt. 

That time the memorandum came out that General John J. Pershing was expected to spend 
three minutes in Schnablegabledorf — the exact time it would take his car, at thirty per, to spread 
a dust cloud over the village — the matter of getting Schnablegabledorf into shape was left to his nibbs, 
Second Lieutenant A. Homer Jones. And the roast was burnt, as you might know. The village 
got cleaned up after a fashion, but so far as making an impression on the Germans went — well, it 
went in the wrong direction and altogether out of bounds. 

Not a little Hans Schnicklefritz in the village but will lemcmber till death do 
us part the "impression" made on the town that day. 

Second Lieutenant A. Homer Jones was an active little man with a big jaw 
and a small forehead. He had been made Town Major because the Captain 
figured, no doubt, that a wholesome occupation with the distribution of candles 
and the inspection of latrines would keep him from committing any grave 
errors that his energy might otherwise lead him into. Perhaps it was for 
this i-eason — his being town major — or perhaps it was because the captain him- 
self was busied with other matters, that our honored loot was given the job 
of setting the town ship shape. 
"Well, A. Homeh, we've geat a teask foh you", announced the captain one night up in his private 
reception room, one leg thrown across the little table there, "We have orders from Headquarters to 
niake an impression on the Geahmans." 

Lieutenant Jones sat on the other side of the table, chewing gum. 
"An impression on the Germans?" he repeated. 

"An impression on the Geahmans. The General is inspecting the Division, and might come 
thru Schnablegabledorf. We ah to clean up the place theahly. I put .\ou in cheage." 
"In Charge?" 

"In cheage. Announce the thing — give the natives a day's grace — then give them the once-oveh 
to assuah yohself yoh uhdehs have been theahely kayeed out." 

They sat a few minutes in silence. Suddenly the loot's little oyes grew bright; he chewed 
hard on his gum, and poked and pulled it between his teeth with his finger and thumb out of 
sheer glee. 

"Tell you what. Captain," he cried, "I'm going to put this thing over right! Call the whole town 
out before the schoolhouse and give them a solemn address — interpreter and all — you know! Let 
the town crier" — 

"But wouldn't it hold the villageahs up from theah wuk down in the quarry and oveh in the 
f awest where they are cutting wod ? 

"What of it! We've got to make this thing impressive, you know!" 

"Check to you!" said the captain. "Throw the dog all yoh want— I heahby theahely wash my 
hands of the business". 

So it came to pass that the village crier, in his little green cap, went from house to house 
thru Schnablegabledorf ringing his handbell, and called the people together on the road before the 
stone schoolhouse. 

The vorsteher, the schoolmaster, the Gasthaus man, the round little, red-faced little miller, the 
shepherd, the gossiping housewives, the little Hans Schnicklefritzes and the little Marie Schnickle- 



147 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY 



fritzes,— all of them were there, in front of the high stone landing before the schoolhouse door, to 
which you ascended from either side by an iron-railed flight of a dozen stone steps. An eminent, 
place, for shavetail — but, still seeing that a sliavetail is next in ranV to a general, perhaps the 
place was all right after all! 

As the people began assembling, they fell into small groups and compared notes in low tones, 
thin faces and ill-looking. Things looked sinister. Presently a sullen silence fell over them, as 
Second Lieutenant A. Homer Jones, followed by "Whitey", the official battery interpreter, ascend- 
ed the stone steps with the dignified and solemn air of a Roman senator. 

"Call them to attention", barked the loot to Whitey," — and order those two brats across the road 
to come over here!" 

The desired attention to all appearance obtained. Lieutenant Jones drew himself up to his full 
height— which was not so much — thrust out his jaw, and glared ferociously for a minute upon 
the crowd. Then, in the magniloquent manner of the high school orator who has learned his piece 
by heart, he began: 

"Citizens of Schnablegabledorf, all you assen;bled here, heed what I say to you. Translate 
that". (The latter aside to Whitey.) 

Whitey — who had been a vaudeville comedian in private life — swelled himself up after the 
best manner of the late Theodore Roosevelt, and translated. 

"It has been ordered by the High command," continued the loot, "that the village of Schnable- 
gabledorf be, in all its nooks and corners, streets and alleys, yards front and rear, lumber piles, man- 
ure piles, wagons, gardens, houses and barns, thoroughly policed, cleaned up, and set in order. 
Translate." 

Whitey translated, again in the said best manner of the late Theodore Roosevelt. An observant 
bystander might have noted a change in the expression upon the faces of the audience, there was 
a slight softening of the sullen looks, a twinkle appeared in many a bitter eye. It might have been 
due either to tiie appearance of the Lieutenant oi to that of the interpreter; and it might have been 
due, on the other hand, to some words or other that Whitey slipped into the translation on his own 
account. At any rate, there was an evident mitigation of resentment upon the part of the hearers. 
The address, or whatever you want to call it, continued. 

"The High Command is expected in person, in the near future, in Schnablegabledorf. It is to 
the interest — we might say the profound interest — of the citizens of Schnablegabledorf, as well as 
of the soldiers of the American Army of Occupation, that everything appear in perfect order. 

The splendid and glorious cause, — the splendid and glorious cause — cause" — the speaker paused, 
and glared resentfully at the iron railing before him. Then he scratched his head and turned to 
Whitey. 

"Damn, I've forgotten the rest of that spiel the captain wrote out. Tell 'em to clean up the 
town and that we'll inspect 'em tomorrow afternoon at one o'clock and let's beat it!" 

The Lieutenant failed to notice the sniggering that Whitey's words drew forth among the 
crowd, for on the way down the stone steps he asked his interpreter if he thought he had made a 
good impression. 

"I wouldn't!" said Whitey, "Hard to tell!" 

The following afternoon at about half -past one (yes, you can be late in the 
ai'my from brass bars up) Second Lieutenant A. Homer Jones set forth from 
the Gasthaus on his inspection tour. 

"To do the roast up Theahly, better take a staff along" advised the captain. 

So Iris nibbs selected a staff. There was Whitey, of course, besides whom 

he picked upon the top kick, the chief mechanic, and the instrument sergeant. 

The instrument sergeant was a clever little shrimp with a big nose, and the chief 

mechanic has a walk like Charley Chaplin. 

At the very threshold of the Gasthaus an incident occured which threw the 
loot into a temper that made him hard to get along with all the rest of the after- 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



noon. To be sure, that fat little Hans Schnicklefiitz shouldn't have laughed at the procession; but 
you couldn't deny that the procession did look rather amusing, what of the prize-fighting carriage 
of Whitey, the Charley Chaplin walk of the chief mechanic and the shrimp with the big nose cut- 
ting faces on the tail end of the thing. 

The loot shook his fist at Hans and said things that wouldn't bear repetition. Then the show 
proceeded up the village road. 

It is the nature of things that billets must be inspected; so our oiiicer and staff' rounded a man- 
ure pile, brushed aside a couple of pop-eyed old women and a swarm of grinning kids, and entering 
a white little timbered house, came into a low room with soldiers and soldiers' paraphernalia in it. 
On the floor, in alignment, wei-e straw ticks covered with 0. D. blankets, upon which lay the display 
of equipment, all in proper anangement 

The soldiers jumped to attention; close behind Lieutenant Jones the staff crowded into the 
small room. Nudges and kings passes behind his nibbs' back. 

For about five minutes his nibbs glared hard at one of the bunks. Upon the ceiling, stuck over 
a heavy center beam, there were pieces of harness, extra shelter halves, German helmets, dirty 
rifles, and all sorts of things that wouldn't stand inspection. But the men knew before hand who 
was coming, so they felt safe. And of course the lieutenant didn't disappoint them in the matter 
of these trinkets. He glared hard at one of the bunks for five minutes, then discovered something 
there that was gravely amiss. An overcoat had been flung carelessly across the middle of the bunk 
and left so by mistake. 

"That bunk yours, Anistophylis?" 
"Yes, sir, b'long me ," said Anistophylis. 
"That the way regulations say it is to be laid out?" 

"No' sir — me — sir — the regulations he no say he b'long dees plase, but — " 
"Why in hell didn't you put it where regulations say to put it then? What, forgot to, did you? 
Well, you wont forget the next time! Put him down in your book, Sergeant, for a week in the 
kitchen. We've got to let these fellows know who's who, dam it, or first thing you know they'll be 
running the army!" 

With this fine flourish the officer stormed out of the door. As the tail of the staff' was about 
to disappear, the shrimp on the end hissed over his shoulder, in mock ferocity, "Ah-ha, Anistophylis, 
planning insurrection, are you? Now you know who's general and who ain't!" 

In the course of the afternoon many a manure pile — that oft-sung 

..^^ jewel and treasure that the German peasant holds close to his bosom, or 

"^^to his kitchen door and under his own and his family's noses, which is 

" the same thing — was smelled and passed and smelled still; many a corner 

was poked into; many a straw was found wind-blown upon the yard, and 

many a Dutchman (or Dutchman's wife) yanked over the coals; and 

many an old tin can, or shoe, or pellmell woodpile was overlooked that 

would have caused our meticulous captain or as a matter of fact any 

other officer than a shave-tail to th)'ow a fit. 

^^0'^. '*°°* The loot atoned, in a measure, for his oversights by inffieting upon 

the natives a wild order that surely took its rise from no headquarters memorandum or any other 
elevated and commonsense source whatever. It could only have originated in his own young and 
extravagant brain. An order, to-wit, that every wagon, wheelbarrow, or other vehicle by the inhabi- 
tants had to be thoroughly washed and scrubbed with water out of hand — within the next hour — by 
the owner; punishment for omission to comply with which order to be summary court-martial and 
anything from three day's pushing brown apples on the village road to being shot at sunrise. 

The loot announced this order before each villager with as fierce an air as he could master; and 
it was translated by Whitey, you can rest assured, with a biavado, a Roosevelt chestiness, that was 
a scream. 




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TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



The natives did scream, too — that is, those of them who had no wagons to wash. Those of them 
who had to get out and do the scrubbing naturally lost the comedy of the situation. Old women 
■wrung their hands and laughed themselves hysterical. Children ran in shouting crowds, in their 
clumping wooden shoes, down the street; they swarmed along in the wake of the staff — who goose- 
stepped, and lockstepped it, and jigged by twos, and pantomined like regular circus clowns. 

His nibbs was uneasy. He had been uneasy, putting it mildly, ever since that little fat Schnickle- 
fritz had laughed at the procession in front of the Gasthous door. He knew right along that some- 
thing was awry in his rear; but he caught none of the staff red-handed; so he wrecked vengeance 
on Herr August Zauerkrout. 

Returning, full parade, toward the Gasthous, he spied a bit of brush lying on top of a little pen 
beside the road — probably an empty pig pen, or something of the sort, it was — and by means of this 
bit of brush he determined to vent his spite. No matter, that there was brush lying all about the 
village, in the shape of faggots and the like; that the village appeared as a whole to be little else 
than a dumping ground for brush picked up in the surrounding forests. In point of fact, the loot 
was probably unaware of all this other brush; but the innocent bit of brush on top of the pen caught 
his bitter eye, and at once he stopped. 

The staff stopped. The cortege of small Schnicklefritzies stopped. And thru neighboring doors 
and windows popped many a housewife's head. 

"Who owns this pen?" snapped his nibbs at the top kick. 

"Sir," said the interpreter, "this pen is the property of Herr August Zauerkrout; he owns and lives 
in the mill down there." 
"Bi'ing him here." 

Herr August Zauerkrout was brought. He was a short, fat man 
with a florid face and a quick and greedy gray eyes. You could see that 
his being "brought" was an outrage to him; it had doubtless interrupted 
some penny bargain he was driving Avith this or that poor, overworked 
village wife. 

"You leave this brush on here?" demanded the loot of Herr Zouer- 
krout, the same as if Herr Zauerkrout could understand it. 

Whitey translated. The miller said that everybody left brush every- 
where around Schnablegabledorf. 

"By thunder," declared the loot in a rage, "I didn't, ask him what 
everybody else did everywhere else in to^vn! I asked him if he left this brush here! Ask him once 
more, and if he gets funny we'll — we'll — " 

Whitey repeated the question, not waiting upon the statement of the threat. The miller said he 
had left the brush there, yes. Whereupon his nibbs flew into a frenzy, and asked him why in hell 
he had left it there, and what he meant by trying to override the order of the American Army of 
Occupation — the orders of the whole Allied Armies, in fact. And he ordered liim arrested and 
brought before the captain for summary court-martial. 

"Athawity — it is oweh duty to theahly impress upon these Geahmans 
the natui-e of oweh athawity." Thus announced the captain upon hearing 
the lieutenant's recital of the miller's insubordination. And his verdict — 
"thi-ee days on the street with a broom — under guard." 

Now it happened that the feeling existing between the miller and 
the village folks was not what you might call genial. The facts were, 
the miller and his two brothers, the tavern keeper and the owner of the 
sawmill, up above the bridge, liad formed a sort of co-operative screw- 
press for the purpose of squeezing groschens out of the poor villagers during the hard times of the 
war. Such proceedings don't usually promote friendship. 




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Therefore it was that the sight for three successive clays of the fat little red-faced miller push- 
ing browTi apples dowTi the street of Schnablegabledorf with a brush twig broom, a man with a gun 
behind him, didn't arouse any fellow feelings and sympathy in the hearts of the natives. On the 
contrary, it was a sight that aroused in them only the highest mirth and delight. They kidded and 
jeered him, the kids .swarming after him like children after a clown at a circus parade. The more 
he cursed and shook his fist at them, the more they howled with laughter. All agreed from the tiny 
tot in the blue dress and the funny little wooden shoes, up to the oldest grandmother with the brown 
shawl over her head, that it was, so to speak, the end of a perfect day. 

The lieutenant always considered that he had succeeded in making an impression on the Ger- 
mans. "And he did make an impression upon the Germans, what 1 mean" Whitey never failed to 
agree. 



First Impressions 

Ohmer H. Engle. 



At 10 P. W. the train stops and an officer entered the coach. "Open all those suitcases at once" 
ccmes the order and then begins the search for old John Barleycorn. 'After a thorough examina- 
tion of all suitcases and a search of pockets comes the order, "All off here." To be suddenly called 
from your comfortable coach and stand in line for half an hour answering I'oll is bad enough but 
when told that we are to hike to camp, "Old Man Gloom" begins to appear >'eiy prominent to us. 

Hike, well, to one not accustomed to it, we begin to wonder whether we are having an endurance 
contest or if there really is a camp until we suddenly see tents and hear men talking about that 
wonderful chicken supper we are to have. To one who has had neither dinner nor supper! Can 
such be possible in the army? We will have to wait and see. 

Suddenly, thru the dark, looms up the outline of a wooden structure. In fact we see many of 
them now and much to our amazement we march directly into the building and upstairs where a 
most inviting sight greets us, iron cots with well filled straw ticks. Blankets are soon issued and 
also a queer looking device, which we soon learn is most essential, the army mess-kit. But where 
is that chicken supper? We are at last told to, "Come and get it"' and we eat our first army meal 
of bacon sandwiches and coffee. This meal causes the rookie to have a queer idea of the army and 
he wonders if all meals are like that. 

Soon all are ready for sleep and all crawl in foi- the first night's sleep wondering if two blankets 
will suffice to keep them warm. Lights are out and all quiet when suddenly comes Lee Baker's calf 
bawl followed by the laughter of all. Then, "If you fellows don't keep still, I'll take your names for 
K. P. Duty". The rookie forms an opinion of the non-com's at once, but just what a K. P. is he 
can't tell. Soon all is quiet and the first day in the army is past. 

To be awakened early in the morning is bad enough but when told to dress and go down stairs 
and line up for roll call is worse. To the rookie this seems all foolishness but he soon learns that 
his opinion is not authority in the Army and that reveille is a daily occurrence. 

Mess. The rookie labors with that mess kit at first but soon learns how to use it to good advan- 
tage. Table etiquette also takes a different phase when "punk", "spuds" and "slum" are added to 
his vocabulary. He also learns to be his own dishwasher. 

The customary filling out of papers follows and then the physical examination. To the rookie 
that physical examination appears as if it would be every strict. Most every one thinks there is 
something wrong with him but he soon learns that army examinations are quite easy to pass. But 
he has a difl:'erent opinion of the inoculations. To see a man take a needle and stick it deep into a 



THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



man's back gives one an awful feeling. He wonders when his turn will come and if there is much 
pain. He discovers that the pain doesn't come then, but the next morning when he tries to raise his 
arm. The soreness wears off in a few days and he is ready- for the next. 

He is now given his first drill. "About face" and "squads right" seem almost impossible at first. 
He is provoked at his own awkwardness. At first the drill is confined to a few hours but he learns 
in the first few lessons how to salute and whom to salute. As he grows older in experience he be- 
comes harder, so gradually drilling and exercising is increased, and his daily work becomes more 
strenuous. 

About this time he discoveres what K. P. means. After working tho entire day in washing 
pans and kettles and scrubbing tables and floors he is almost disgusted with army life. It appears 
to him that the cooks try to dirty every pan owned by the battery. 

Guard duty is another surprise. As he is new at the game he is willing to learn. At first he 
labors with his general orders and learns just wh>' he is on guard and what to do. His first weapon 
is, not a gun, but an ax handle. Those two hours of walking his post seem the longest and most 
tiresome two hours he has ever spent. He learns to be on the alert at all times for the Officer of 
the Guard and Officer of the Day. 

In the congested civilization in which the rookie is placed we see many of the old habits and 
pretty vices begin to disappear. After a few days, laziness begins to wane. Carelessness is 
abolished after the first inspection and a good lecture on that particular subject. "Knocking" and 
"Beefing" begin to disappear by the time the rookie is accustomed in what to expect. 

After a few months of training in the fundamentals of military life no trace of the old habits 
appear. Vigorous discipline and routine have crushed them all and the rookie stands forth a clear- 
eyed, clear-cut private. 



'Saaimg© ®f EqiimipinmcEimt 



Arthur W. Jones 

It was quiet that morning of November fifteenth, in the peaceful town of Vilosnes. A handful of 
men from Battery "D," chiefly non-coms, were leisurely policing and caring for the horses, the major- 
ity of the men having gone to Montfaucon on a detail. Suddenly the bugle blew assembly; the men 
fell in; the Major General of the division would inspect the battery. He came shortly — where was all 
this battery, why weren't the men shaved, why were the men in sweaters, what in hell was the 
matter? Luckily the battery commander, in civilian life sold real estate and soon matters were 
smoothed out. That inquisitive General, even after being told by Major Nash the wagons were dirty 
because machines in passing splashed mud on them, insisted on seeing the other side, next to the 
canal, which strangely were dirty also. 

All that day non-coms washed pieces, caissons, chariot du pares and fourgons — and not a buck 
there to watch the unheard of event. At four the> quit, vowing to rest for the next three days. 
Four-thirty came and also four loads of assorted straps and buckles wei'e dumped on the picket line. 
Seven o'clock, a weary procession of men riding and leading two hundred and fifty gassed, mangy 
ponies from a British light artillery regiment came in. At nine o'clock when the horses had nearly all 
. been watered and fed an order came — "Clear Vilosnes by six A. M. on November 16th." The battery 
sorted harness, by eleven most of the sets no longer resembled Chinese puzzles, and a tired bunch 
hit the hay. 

Two A. M. — November sixteenth — "I can't get 'em up" blared out. By three the last sleepy eyed 
buck from across the canal was in line with pack and full equipment even to his souvenirs. The 



152 



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cold was penetiating but often .some particularly sulphurous explosion warmed the atmosphere. Every 
fourgun was packed and repacked at least twice. The horses were fed, watered, then paired and 
hitched to the pieces and wagons. At six the battery was on its way. Somehow the new horses 
made that memorable, long, ice coated hill and the last detachment prilled into Bois de Ecurey at 
eleven-thirty. 

Here all horses nad to be turned in at once and one hundred and fifty-four new horses were 
if sued. New clothes were also issued; at sight of those leather jerkins many a man tore over the 
field leaving his horses to wander at will. The horses were taken to the picket line, paired off and 
assigned to the different sections while the drivers salvaged harness fi'om a large heap in a corner 
of. the field. By four-thirty it was — "Three-two-four, on the way to Germany", after having com- 
pletely changed horses and harness twice in the past twenty-four hours. 



The Boomerang 

(jeorge H. Prosser 



Things were awfully dull in Kausen along the latter part of March 1919. So it is small wonder 
that April 1st found Battery "D" ripe for mischief. This annual jOke day happened to come just 
when the men were expecting to get word to turn in their equipment and get ready to leave the 
Coblenz bridgehead for their long journey back to the good >_'. S. A. Rumois from various sources 
were in the air so it was quite natural when Oldaker, the top kicker, announced at reveille that all 
rifles and revolvers would be turned in at the supply-room before 8:00 o'clock the statement was 
leceived with loud cheers. 

Breakfast was a tame affair and nobody stayed for seconds but practically all the men made 
a beeline for the arms room, drew their weapons and were soon busily cleaning and oiling them with 
ccsmoline. Such industry and attention to detail never having been noted before in any military 
organization. Soon there was a steady line of men going down the street to the Gasthaus with their 
rifles dripping with oil. There was a smile on every face and many were the speculations as to how 
long it would be before we would all be in "Gods Country". 

The Supply room in the Gasthaus was on the top floor and only up eight flights of stairs. 
When the men reached the door quite out of breath and were met by a crudely painted but quite 
legible sign of "April Fool" the language that came in explosive bursts as each newcomer arrived 
on the scene was quite unfit for publication. There was talk of riding the perpetrators of the joke 
on a rail to the creek and there giving them their just deserts. 

However' the sign was carefully removed from the door and nailed to a tree in front of the 
schoolhouse where the Battery had their formations, after it had been decided that there were other 
people who could do some fooling. During the half-hour preceding the first formation it w-as notic- 
able that there was quite a bit of scurrying around from billet to billet and much excited talking 
among the men. 

Of course the bugler knew what was up when the time came for first call he blew as usual. 
Soon Oldie came trudging up the hill to form the outfit for the usual routine. A sickly grin over- 
spread his countenance when he arrived at the appointed place and not a man was present. However 
he laughed and announced to the town at large thai the joke was about even, that he would call it a 
50-50 affair and let it go at that. The bugler was ordered to blow first call again but the men held 
firm and the top-kicker was compelled to announce to the schoolhouse that the joke was on him. 
Fire call followed but the boys in the billets laughed and remained where they were. 

Then a happy thought struck Oldie. Why not give a personal order to the sergeants to get 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



their men out, so for the next half hour our honorable top tramped from billet to billet and told 
each section chief to get his men out. First call blew again, the command "fall in" was given 
followed in due time by "Call the roll". Eight section chiefs promptly about faced, produced note 
books from which they loudly read the names of men in their section, about faced and smilingly re- 
ported "all absent". The only thing left to do was to depart so Oldie announced so the ears listen- 
ing behind closed doors and windows could hear. I'll work you all day Sunday for this." But he 
didn't. 

Fimimk 

George H. Prosser 

Onee upon a time in the good old days when tinned roast beef was known either by the poctu 
name of "tinned Willie" or "monkey meat;" when rations, clothes and footwear were so hard to 
bring up all but the absolute essentials were overlooked; the days when a slice of white bread was 
worth to the possessor, quite a few "pfennigen" or at least "one of them franc things." A loaf of 
real bread was beyond price and the owner of such a dainty was liable to being slugged and robbed. 
Such a time happened at Breitenau. 

Across from the church was a barn that the Supply Co used as a temporary storehouse for the 
Second Battalion. .Jam, karo and bread were semi occasionally unloaded from trucks and piled on 
the floor of the barn and it was generally believed that provisions were left unguarded, though 
locked in the barn over night. There was a rickety window in the back, and, a corporal upon a 
forage scouting trip observed that it could easily be removed. Seeking help, he detailed a ser- 
geant and a bugler as assistants, and while waiting for darkness laid the plans of the raiding ex- 
pedition that was to return bread a hundred fold. 

A service bayonet and a thirty foot pole if properly manipulated through the window were 
thought to be necessary implements to secure the punk, still not lay the culprits open to court- 
martial. Lashing the bayonet on the end of the pole and inserting the makeshift bread spear through 
the window they probed the darkness patiently and thoroughly but to no avail. Finally as no bread 
■was forthcoming caution was partially cast to the winds and preparations were made to invade the 
strong-hold in force. The corporal insisted on being the: one to take the risk and was soon pushing 
his long and lanky frame thi'ough the window into the gloom. Falling over a hay cutter and knock- 
ing over a basket and a fork he slowly felt his way to the open place and upon hands and knees 
began to search the super-darkness. 

Being unable to strike anything caution was completely cast to the winds and a match lit. Gaz- 
ing around on the floor nothing but an empty box or so and several old papers lying on the floor 
were to be seen. No jam, not even a can of Karo and not a single ciumb of bread was in sight on 
the floor where untold wealth was believed to rest unguarded. In his anguish at the terrible disappoint 
he used his eyes and swept around the walls of the barn searching for something to take back to 
his hungry comrades resting in the billet. There, he saw it just as the match flickered out. There 
on the end of the beam it sat just as though it had been put there. Quickly feeling his way in the 
darkness to the beam he followed it along to his goal. His hand closed over it fondly and feeling his 
way to the window he passed out to his pals, a roll of toilet paper. 

Pa te 
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN? 

At reveille Corp. Chase whose mind was on mundane things surprised the "Top", when called 
upon to report the Detail Section, with "Breakfast is ready." 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 



(ieoi'ge H. Prosser 

It happened about the time the 158th Brigade was detached from the 32nd Division, when the 
men were in an ugly mood over the prospects of spending the rest of their lives in the Army of 
Occupation, holding down a bunch of dumb Junkers. For some reason or other a German civilian 
had been making bi-weekly trips thru Kausen on a motor-cycle and relying on the speed of his motor 
had frequently made defiant and obscene gestures at the men of Battery "D". 

Complaint was made to the officers and as he passed thru one day a group of men were detailed 
to stop him as he came back and bring him before the captain. He returned just after supper and 
as he rounded the curve into sight the cry of "Here he comes. Stop Him." arose from many throats. 
The men on guard before the orderly room quickly held a large door across the road and as he 
came to a stop he was surrounded by an angry crowd of soldiers. 

The captain came to the steps and thi-u an interpreter inquired what he meant by such gestures. 
He admitted making faces at the men but denied meaning anything by it. The captain was 
telling him that the .Americans would stand for no such foolishness when someone suggested duck- 
ing the German in the creek to cool him off. Thit; suggestion meeting with the approval of the men 
standing around, the captain and the top kick obligingly found work for themselves in the orderly 
room. 

Strong hands were gently but firmly laid on Mr. German Smarty and he was dismounted from his 
cycle and escorted to the creek. Of course he was unwilling to take a plunge but with half a dozen 
good men propelling him his decent was quite rapid. So rapid in fact that the men assisting in the 
ablutions fell into the water along with the Boche. 

Dripping- with water and covered to the waist with mud he climbed out on the bank and walked 
slowly towards his machine. Pale faced and speechless with anger he seemed unable to decide what 
to do until the boys gave him to understand he wat to get out of town. Mounting his cycle with 
the utm.ost dignity possible under the circumstances he started towards Coblenz and just before he 
went around thi turn in the road that would hide him from sight he made the same gesture of 
defiance. 

(lillogly had his motorcycle warm and waiting so only a kick was necessary to start it and he 
was off down the road in pursuit, accompanied by Guy MalTet of Battery "C", in the side car. The 
pair caught up with Fritz in less than two miles but he refused to stop. Gillogly drove his cycle 
along side and crowded the German off the road into a cliff. Somersaults were in order and when 
Heinie came out of his daze Gillogly was shanking him and pointing to the seat in the side car 
that had been used by Maffet. The fall had taker, all (he fight out of the culpi'it and he meekly 
climbed into the basket and soon was speeding back to Kausen. 

Gillogly's eyes snapped and his famous grin was never more in evidence than when he rode 
victoriously up to the Gasthaus steps with his prisoner. Rough hands pulled the German from the 
basket and the arrival of the Captain was all that saved the prisoner from general manhandling. 

He was taken into the orderly room vsrhere he was courtmartialed and fined 100 marks. Upon 
being told he was at liberty to go he fell on his knees and said "I beeg of you Herr Captain, Go wiz 
me to my niuzzer. Die soldats will keel me." 



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THE TRAIL OF BATTERY D 

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